English Cathedrals

The cathedrals here are primarily medieval. There have been several churches raised to cathedral status in the past few hundred years as population expanded and settlement patterns changed, but those buildings are often of lesser interest to the casual tourist. Dress warmly. Even in summer the medieval stone giants can chill your bones

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
See also: Wales | Scotland

Arundel Cathedral    A Victorian Gothic (Catholic) cathedral in the French style. Arundel was begun by Henry, 15th Duke of Norfolk, and completed in 1873. The Duke employed as his architect Joseph Hansom, inventor of the Hansom cab. While this might seem an odd chhoice, Hansom carried out his brief brilliantly, creating a soaring church faced with Bath stone. Cathedral House, Parsons Hill Arundel, West Sussex, England, BN18 9AY Attraction Type: Cathedral Location: above junction of A27 and A284 Website: Arundel Cathedral Email: aruncath1@aol.com Phone: 01903 882 297 Fax: 01903 885 335 Location map OS TQ015070 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Bath Abbey    A church built by a dream. In this case the dreamer was Oliver King, Bishop of Bath and Wells, Secretary to Henry VII. It seems the good bishop had a dream of angels climbing a ladder, and a voice said to him, "Let a King restore the church". Accordingly, he had the Norman abbey church pulled down and in 1499 work began on a new cathedral. The chancel and side aisles had been vaulted by the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the tower crossing was completed under Elizabeth, but the nave was not finished until Victorian times. The resulting fan vaulting creates a superb rhythmic unity. Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 1LT Attraction Type: Cathedral Website: Bath Abbey Email: office@bathabbey.org Phone: 01225 422 462 Fax: 1225 429 990 Location map OS ST752 648 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Brentwood Cathedral    Brentwood is a modern cathedral designed by architect Quinlan Terry in the style of the early Italian Renaissance, tempered by the English Baroque influence of Chriustopher Wren. The structure also retains part of the 1861 Gothic revival church originally on this spot. Ingrave Road, Brentwood, Essex, England, CM15 8AT Attraction Type: Cathedral Location: in town centre Website: Brentwood Cathedral Email: cathedral@dioceseofbrentwood.org Phone: 01277 265 235 Location map OS TQ597 939 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Bristol Cathedral    Established by Augustinian canons in 1140. Of the early Norman church little remains but the chapter house (1150-70). The chancel, aisles, and Lady chapel were built 1298-1330. What makes Bristol unusual for England is that the aisles are built to the same height as the choir, in the style common to the late German Gothic "hall church". The chancel contains one of the earliest examples of lierne vaulting in the world. A little overwhelmed by this later work is an Anglo-Saxon carving dated to c.1000AD of Christ at the Harrowing of Hell. College Green, Bristol, Bristol, England, BS1 5TJ Attraction Type: Cathedral Website: Bristol Cathedral Email: reception@bristol-cathedral.co.uk Phone: 0117 926 4879 Fax: 0117 9253678 Location map OS ST584 727 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Canterbury Cathedral    Even if Thomas à Becket had chosen somewhere else to earn his martyr's crown, Canterbury would still deserve attention for its role in the spread of Christianity throughout England. It was here that St. Augustine began the conversion of the pagan islanders in 597. Nothing remains of the Saxon church, for after the Norman conquest Archbishops Lanfranc and Anselm rebuilt it on a more lavish scale. Of this first Norman church the crypt, the southeastern tower, and the eastern transept still stand. In 1170 Becket met his death in the north transept of the crossing at the hands of four knights seeking to curry favour with Henry II, who had quarelled with the Archbishop. Immediately afterwards miracles began to be reported at Becket's tomb, and when the church suffered a major fire in 1172 it provided an excuse for rebuilding and making the cathedral a fitting shrine for the recent martyr. The rebuilding was entrusted to William of Sens, who brought with him a mastery of the new French style, which we now call "Gothic". In 1179 William of Sens fell from scaffolding above the high altar and was so badly injured that he was forced to retire and leave the project in the capable hands of his assistant, a man known to us only as William the Englishman. Becket's shrine was finished in 1220, and for another 300 years it was the most popular place of pilgrimage in England (see Chaucer's Canterbury Tales). In the 14th century Lanfranc's nave was rebuilt by Henry Yeveley, called the greatest architect of late medieval England. Yeveley pushed the nave to the height of the chancel, creating a vast, upward-reaching hall. In 1496 the "Bell Harry" central tower was added. Henry VIII's men despoiled Becket's tomb during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, carting away 26 wagon loads of valuables and scattering the bones of the saint. Canterbury, Kent, England, CT1 2EH Attraction Type: Cathedral Website: Canterbury Cathedral Email: Enquiries@canterbury-cathedral.org Phone: 01227 762 862 Fax: 01227 865 222 Location map OS TR152 578 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Carlisle Cathedral    Carlisle Cathedral bears the scars of 900 years spent in this most tumultuous of regions. The original nave, built in 1092 as a collegiate church, has only two bays remaining. The transepts and tower date from the 15th century. The glories of Carlisle are the east window, one of the best examples of decorated tracery anywhere, and the delicately carved capitals in the choir, depicting the seasons. Carlisle, Cumbria, England, CA3 8TZ Attraction Type: Cathedral Website: Carlisle Cathedral Email: office@carlislecathedral.org.uk Phone: 01228 548 151 Fax: 01228 547 049 Location map Details of Carlisle Cathedral OS NY399 559 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Chelmsford Cathedral    The Cathedral Church of St Mary, St Peter and St Cedd is housed in a 15th century building which became a cathedral in 1914. Splendid new organs. New Street, Chelmsford, Essex, England, CM1 1AT Attraction Type: Cathedral Website: Chelmsford Cathedral Location map OS TL709069 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Chester Cathedral    Here is a church which suffers much from the well-intentioned efforts of Victorian restorers. Chester was originally built by Saxon canons in the name of Saint Werburgh, a lady whose claim to sainthood was not harmed by having three Saxon kings as relatives. The church was raised to cathedral status by Henry VIII. In the interim the church gained magnificent woodcarving in the choirstalls (about 1380). Look closely at the carvings on the misericords and bench ends; aside from the obvious (St. Werburgh), there are details of Arthurian legend, Aesop's fables, and fabulous mythical beasts. At the shrine to St. Werburgh you can see the niches where medieval sufferers rested their heads while spending the night in a prayer for healing. 12 Abbey Square, Chester, Cheshire, England, CH1 2HU Attraction Type: Cathedral Website: Chester Cathedral Phone: 01244 324 756 Fax: 01244 341 110 Location map Details of Chester Cathedral OS SJ405 666 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Chichester Cathedral    In 1075 Chichester came to prominence with the transfer of the bishop's seat from Selsey, on the coast. The Norman work here is largely 12th century. In the 13th century the wooden roof of the nave was replaced with stone vaulting. A unique feature of Chichester is the freestanding bell tower. Take a close look at the spire. It is actually a Victorian restoration, and a very succesful one at that. West Street, Chichester, West Sussex, England, PO19 1PX Attraction Type: Cathedral Location: in town centre Website: Chichester Cathedral Email: enquiry@chichestercathedral.org.uk Phone: 01243 782595 Fax: 01243 812499 Location map OS SU860 047 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Durham Cathedral    Durham is one of the high points of cathedral architecture in this or any other land. The site helps; the church is perched above a bend of the River Wear and ringed below with trees. The cathedral was founded in 995 as a final resting place for the remains of Saint Cuthbert, which had been carted about for over a century since they were removed from Lindisfarne and the threat of the Danes. Cuthbert's followers built the White Church here, but it was pulled down by the second bishop of Durham when the present building was begun in 1093. The nave is astonishing; the relatively slender composite piers alternate with massive drum columns. In this building the three main innovations of the revolutionary Gothic style come together: pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses (hidden here above the aisle vaults). Durham, County Durham, England Attraction Type: Cathedral Website: Durham Cathedral Email: enquiries@durhamcathedral.co.uk Phone: 0191 386 4266 Fax: 0191 386 4267 Details of Durham Cathedral OS NZ272 423 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

More Cathedrals in England
Browse alphabetically or page by page
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Text © David Ross and Britain Express