Medieval Cathedrals
he main difference
between a cathedral and a large church is the presence of the throne of
a bishop. The word cathedral derives from the Latin and originally Greek
word cathedra, meaning a chair or throne. The diocese of which the
bishop overlooks is called a see and is named after the city in which he
sits. In other countries cathedrals are not always built on a large
scale, but in England cathedrals have centred around large dioceses and
attracted large legacies and other riches allowing the buildings to grow
in size and splendour.
Many cathedrals are built on earlier sacred sites where saints have been buried. Sadly many of the cathedrals that were founded before 1066 have very little of the early buildings still standing, except in some cases where the crypts have survived. Those that were founded before 1066 include Canterbury in 597, York in 625, Lichfield in 656, Hereford in 676 and Worcester in 680. The list of those buildings that are defined as cathedrals has changed over time. In 1066 the list of cathedrals were, Canterbury, York, London, Rochester, Lichfield, Winchester, Hereford, Worcester, Wells, Durham, Exeter, Elmham (Norfolk), Dorchester (Oxfordshire), Sherborne (Dorset) and Selsey (Sussex).
The cathedrals before the Norman Conquest were probably much smaller in size compared to what we see now. The Normans brought their building skills with them and shortly after the Conquest many of the cathedrals were being rebuilt.
Cathedrals in England and Wales
(Incomplete)
Medieval Cathedrals of England (Incomplete)
| Cathedral | Established | Details |
| Bristol Cathedral | 1542 | Bristol Cathedral was not raised to the status of a cathedral until 1542 by King Henry VIII but a building of size and importance has stood on the site since medieval times and possibly before. In around 1140 a monastery run by Augustinian canons was founded by Robert Fitzharding. |
| Canterbury Cathedral | 597 | The site for the cathedral was important as far back as AD 597 when the missionary St. Augustine was sent from Rome by Gregory the Great and converted the Pagan king Ethelbert to Christianity. |
| Chichester Cathedral | 1108 | Chichester Cathedral became a cathedral when the see of the Bishop in the area was moved from Selsey to the city of Chichester in the time of William the Conqueror. The new church built mainly by Bishop Ralph Luffa was consecrated in 1108. |
| Ely Cathedral | 1109 | Ely Cathedral's site dates back to at least AD 673, when a monastery for both monks and nuns was founded by St. Etheldreda. The church at Ely became a Cathedral when it became the seat of the bishopric (or Diocese) of the area. Hervey who had been abbot at Ely was made its first Bishop by King Henry I. |
| Selsey Cathedral | 681 | At the Council of London in 1075, Archbishop Lanfranc instigated the movement of many English Bishoprics to more important locations. Amongst these was Selsey which moved to Chichester. |
| Exeter Cathedral | 1050 | In 1050 Edward the Confessor had the location of the See of Devon and Cornwall moved from Crediton in Cornwall to Exeter some seven miles away. There was an existing Benedictine monastery at Exeter and it was into this building that Leofric moved. |
| Gloucester Cathedral | 1541 | Gloucester Cathedral's history goes back a long time. In 681 King Ethelred gave Osric permission to found a monastery in Gloucester in honour of St. Peter. In 1048, A few years before the Norman Conquest of 1066, the site was used by Aldred, bishop of Worcester, to found a Benedictine Monastery. The city of Gloucester being an important royal city at the time. |
| Hereford Cathedral | 676 | According to the historian Bede, in 676 Bishop Putta of Rochester, after the sack of his own city and cathedral by Aethelred, was granted a plot of land assumed to be at Hereford for a new church. |
| Lichfield Cathedral | 1195? | Lichfield Cathedral is built on the site of the church of St. Chad, the bishop of the Mercians in 667. His shrine on the site was a place for pilgrims to travel to. |
| Lincoln Cathedral | 1074? | Lincoln Cathedral, situated on a hill in the city of Lincoln, can be seen from many miles in all directions. The building of the first cathedral, dedicated to St. Mary, began in around 1074 and was orchestrated by Remigius originally a Norman monk and almoner at Fecamp Abbey who has assisted William the Conqueror's invasion. |
Places of Pilgrimage
From medieval times through to the modern day the Church has inspired people to visit religious sites. These included taking the long journey to Rome or further to the Holy Land and Jerusalem. The people who undertook such journeys are called Pilgrims. For those pilgrims who could not travel such large distances cathedrals and abbeys served the same purpose. By containing the remains of important religious people and the relics of saints they became the focus of pilgrimages. Especially if miracles took place. It was thought that the sick could be cured by visiting the site where these remains were held.
It was important for a cathedral to be a place of pilgrimage as pilgrims visting the cathedral would donate money. It was highly unlikely that the relics were genuine but that didn't stop many visitors travelling to see them.
It was one of the duties of the sacristan in the abbey or monastery to look after the relics. It was also their job to collect the donations from the pilgrims. The guest-master was responsible for the accommodation needed for the more important pilgrims.
A Pilgrim's Story
"A weary traveler tired from a long pilgrimage approaches the gates of a secluded abbey, looking for shelter from the storm. The monk, dressed in a simple robe, greets the pilgim.
"Blessings upon thee, traveler. What dost thou seek in this humble house of God?
"Good morrow, Brother. I am but a weary pilgrim, coming from Evesham on pilgrimage to the holy shrine of St. Wulfstan at Worcester. Might I find rest within these sacred walls?
"This house is a haven for the faithful and a refuge for the wayfarer so thou art welcome, my child. Enter, and lay thy burdens down.
"I thank thee kindly, Brother. My journey hath been long and fraught with trials. A storm on the Worcester road nearly swept me away, and my provisions are spent.
"The Lord is merciful, for He hath guided thee safely to this place. Come, share of our bread and water, and warm thyself by the hearth. The abbey doth provide for the weary.
| Cathedral | Reason for Pilgrimage |
| Canterbury Cathedral | The shrine of Thomas Becket who was murdered in 1170 by knights who thought they were taking instruction from King Henry II. Being one of more important shrines in England meant large amounts of donations flowed into the cathdral's coffers. The English poet and author Geoffrey Chaucer wrote stories of imaginary people visiting the Cathedral called the Canterbury Tales. |
| Rochester Cathedral | William of Perth was a religious man who was murdered in Rochester on his way to Rome. His body was buried in the cathedral. |
| Salisbury Cathedral | St. Osmund was the bishop of Salisbury and died in 1099. When the cathedral was moved from Old Sarum to its new site by the river his remains were transferred as well. |
| Hailes Abbey | To provide a regular income, the abbey needed a religious relic and this was provided - a phial said to hold the blood of Jesus. The relic was presented by Edmund, Earl of Cornwall who said the blood was found in Germany during his travels. |
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