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Wales | Scotland
Norwich
Cathedral
Norwich, Norfolk, England, Website: www.cathedral.org.uk,
Email: vis-profficer@cathedral.org.uk,
Tel: 01603 218 321.
Herbert de Losinga bought the bishopric of Thetford
from William Rufus and moved it to Norwich in 1094. Then, ostensibly because he
repented of the sinful act of buying his position, the bishop built a cathedral
as an act of expiation. The bishop's cathedra, or throne of stone, was brought
to the new building, and it can be seen today behind the altar. In 1272 a quarrel
broke out between the prior of the cathedral and the townsfolk of Norwich when
the prior tried to collect tolls for a fair. The enraged townsfolk threw burning
brands onto the roof of the cathedral, with predictable results. The city paid
a heavy fine and the church was rebuilt. One unusual feature for England is the
rounded apse behind the high altar. Look for the carvings on the bosses of the
nave and in the cloister walk. East
Anglia attractions map
Oxford,
Christ Church Cathedral
Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, Website:
www.chch.ox.ac.uk, Tel: 1865
276492.
This smallest of English cathedrals started life as a shrine to
St. Frideswide, a lady whose reputation was made when a Saxon who tried to force
himself on her was struck blind. In 1525 Cardinal
Wolsey had half of the church nave pulled down to make way for his new Christ
Church College. In 1546 the new see of Oxford was moved to this modest church,
which also acts as the college chapel. The late 15th century vaulting is remarkable,
with drooping pendants running the length of the choir. Heart
of England attractions map | Oxford
Guide >>
Peterborough
Cathedral
Peterborough, England, PE1 1XS, Website: www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk,
Email: info@peterborough-cathedral.org.uk,
Tel: 01733 343342, Fax: 01733 355316.
The first monastery here goes back
to 655, when the royal family of the kingdom of Mercia
converted to Christianity. That monastery was sacked by the Norse in 870 and rebuilt
about 100 years later. This late Saxon church survived attack by Hereward
the Wake in 1070, but fell to a servant's carelessness with fire in 1116.
The nave, rounded apse, transepts, and chancel were completed by 1175.
When you look at the west front of Peterborough it is hard to shake the impression
that the builders weren't quite sure which style to adopt, so they included a
bit of everything. Officially called a screen front, there are three enormous
Gothic arches topped by triangular gables and side turrets, all of which projects
from and masks a simpler deep-set facade. Catherine
of Aragon was buried here. So too was Mary
Queen of Scots until her son James
I ordered her body removed to Westminster Abbey. One of the interesting features
of the interior is the ceiling of the nave, which is panelled in wood and richly
painted, and the fan vaulted retrochoir. East
Anglia attractions map
Ripon
Ripon, Yorkshire, England, HG4 1QS, Website: www.riponcathedral.org.uk,
Tel: 01765 602072.
St. Cuthbert, who seems to have gotten about quite a
bit during and after his lifetime (see Durham),
was once guestmaster at the 7th century Celtic monastery here, but it was not
until 1836 that Ripon became a cathedral. The original nave (circa 1180) had no
aisles, the only illumination was from the clerestory. There is a Saxon crypt,
but the rood screen and the choir stalls with their rich and allegorical carving
are the chief interest. Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland, is
supposed to have been inspired by the strange beasts carved here. Yorkshire
and the Northeast attractions map
Rochester
Rochester, Kent, England, ME1 1SX, Website: www.rochester.anglican.org/cathedral,
Tel: 01634 843366.
Although it is overshadowed by its near neighbour Rochester
Castle, the cathedral has a fascinating history. Second only to Canterbury
in age (the see was established in 604). For all its early history, the cathedral
as we see it is mostly 12th century. The west door is a notable example of Romanesque
sculpture. Rochester became an important pilgrimage centre in the 13th century
when William of Perth, a Scot on his way to the Holy Land, was murdered there,
and miracles were reported at his tomb. The pilgrims paid for the choir and presbytery.
South
East England attractions map | Rochester
Cathedral in detail >>
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Text © David Ross and Britain Express 2001
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