English Cathedrals

There are two Cathedrals in Birmingham - St Philip’s and St Chad’s.

St Philip’s is the oldest building in the city centre and is a fine example of elegant English Baroque. Four magnificent stained-glass windows, designed by Edward Burne-Jones were installed in the late 19th century.

Built between 1839 - 1841. Designed in the north German 13th century style. The architect was Augustus Pugin. It's known as a minor basilica because it houses the remains of a saint - St Chad.

The pews are made of Japanese oak.

The organ dates from 1993 and is the largest entirely mechanical organ in the midlands.

Bristol Cathedral is a fine example of a medieval hall church - meaning that the vaulted ceilings in the Nave, Quire and Aisles are all at the same height.

The Cathedral is one of England’s great medieval churches and has been a place of worship for nearly 900 years.

The cathedral is built on the site of an Augustinian Monastery. The area around College Green has been a place of religious significance for over a thousand years.

The Abbot’s Gatehouse was completed in 1515.

The choir, with on the LHS, the 17th century organ. The beautiful ribbed vaulting above the choir dates back to the 13th century.

The nave is primarily a Victorian construction.

The 12th century Norman Chapter House is the Cathedral’s greatest treasure. The vault is supported by ribs covered in zigzag. The side stalls have delicate friezes of intersecting arcades, fluted and beaded.

A fine example of Early English Gothic, with elegant pointed arches and fine carvings.

The Lady Chapel was rebuilt in 1298. Beneath the magnificent east window is a 16th century stone parapet.

In August 1965 the architects were commissioned to undertake the design and construction of a new Cathedral on a new site in Clifton, Bristol.

In 1973 the Cathedral opened to the public.

Clifton Cathedral was designed to accommodate a congregation of 1,000.

Henry Haig (1930-2007) was an abstract artist and painter noted for his stained glass work. The stained glass windows in the narthex at Clifton Cathedral are made from 8000 pieces of glass and the designs depict the Pentecost and Jubilation.

There are 14 panels within the Cathedral depicting the Stations of the Cross. They were designed and executed by William Mitchell.

On the 14th of November 1940 a German bombing raid destroyed the centre of Coventry and the medieval Cathedral, St Michael. A decision was made to preserve the ruins and build a new Cathedral. This new building, designed by Basil Spence opened its doors to the people of Coventry in 1962.

Inside the Cathedral, designed by the Architect Basil Spence.

On the RHS is the Cathedral Organ The 4,092 pipes were designed to be decorative as well as functional.

Designed by Graham Sutherland. Measuring 23m x 12m it makes an impressive statement and dominates the Cathedral.

Designed by Anthony Blee.

A very impressive mosaic designed by Steven Sykes. Let down by woeful lighting.

Before the start of the start of WW2 the medieval stained glass was removed from St Michael and stored in the crypt. Some of these beautiful pieces are on display in the new Cathedral.

Made in 1940 from two medieval roof beams which had fallen in the shape of a cross after the firebombing of the Cathedral.

The western towers dominate the bluff overhanging the River Wear. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, and rightly voted Britain’s most favourite building.

The great piers, either side of the nave, carved with chevrons, vertical fluting and lozenges are characteristic of this extraordinary building.

The great, round drum piers with their carved patterns were originally painted in bright colours.

Beyond the crossing screen are the 17th century stalls.

The Chapter House was built between 1071 - 1080 under Bishop Walcher, probably in a square shape, with the first monk's dormitory above. The roof was later heightened and the apsidal (rounded) east end added from 1133 - 1140

The Quire stalls date to the 1660's. The cathedral organ dates to 1876, replacing the famous Father Smith organ of 1686.

The Neville screen, one of the treasures of the cathedral was completed in 1380. The rose window is 19th century, the original and many others within the cathedral were all smashed by Oliver Cromwell’s soldiers.

Below the Bishop’s throne is the stunning tomb of Thomas Hatfield, Bishop of Durham ( 1345-81 ). Hatfield founded Durham College ( now called Trinity College ), Oxford, where monks from Durham studied. This is the only tomb in the cathedral to survive the Reformation, unharmed.

The magnificent west front was originally flanked by two towers.

The thirteenth century east end and on the RHS, the fourteenth century Lady Chapel.

Completed by 1340, after the collapse of the Norman tower. What we see today is a masterpiece of medieval engineering.

The Octagon was built in the fourteenth century, after the original Norman tower collapsed.

The octagon was built in the 14th century after the original Norman tower collapsed. The painted angels on the lantern are 19th century.

The Nave vault, depicting scenes from the Bible was painted in the nineteenth century.

The hammer-beam roofs were built in the 15th century.

In the foreground, the stone, set in the floor marks the site of St Etheldreda’s shrine - destroyed during the Reformation.

Built between 1488 and 1500. The ceiling represents the culmination of Gothic building in England.

Built between 1321 and 1349. The original stained glass and exquisite statues were all destroyed during the Reformation.

There has been a cathedral on this site since 1050. The glorious west front is flanked on either side by two towers, built during the 12th century.

This fine view along the Nave from the west doors and is a great spectacle of English architecture. The stone-vaulted ceiling is the longest constructed in medieval Britain.

The finest view of the nave is from the west door. You may be very lucky and find the nave clear of chairs. The ribs overhead stretch into the far distance - truly spectacular.

The pulpitum statues and great cross were destroyed during the Reformation. The paintings were added in the early 17th century, they contain scenes from the Old and New Testaments.

The bishop's throne is 15m tall and considered a great treasure of medieval woodwork. It dates to the early 14th century.

The lady chapel is a fine example of early Decorated Gothic. It dates to the late 13th century. The east window glass was installed in 1952. The original victorian stained glass was destroyed by German bombing in 1942.

In the Lady Chapel you’ll find this remarkable memorial to Lady Dorothy Bampfield, who died in 1614.

A place of worship since the 7th century.

The reddish colour at the bottom of the columns is the result of a fire in 1122 which brought the wooden roof crashing down.

The vault above the nave dates to 1242 and is in the style known as Early English.

Dating to the 14th century, the vault is one of the glories of Gloucester Cathedral.

The great east window was installed in the 1350’s. The magnificent quire vault is one of the cathedral’s crowning glories. It was built as an image of Heaven on earth.

A glorious view which never fails to impress.

These magnificent cloisters date back to the 15th century, and is the oldest surviving, anywhere in the world.

The lady chapel dates to the 15th century. Between the 1540’s and 1650’s the lady chapel was deliberately vandalised during the Reformation and Civil War.

The alabaster tomb of Edward II was ordered by his son Edward III in 1330. Edward II was put to death in Berkeley Castle in 1327.

A place of worship for more than 1,300 years.

The garden is surrounded by the remaining walks of the original 1412 cathedral cloister.

Massive Norman arches are one of the glories of this cathedral.

The enormous window is nineteenth century.

Built between 1220 and 1230, with its 5 beautiful lancet windows.

Designed by Simon Beer and installed in 1992. The chevrons echo the chevrons on the Norman arches.

The lady chapel dates to the early 13th century. The five beautiful lancet windows are from the 19th century.

Considered one of England’s most beautiful cathedrals. After his victory , William the Conqueror built a network of castles and cathedrals to secure the country. Here at Lincoln he built both a magnificent castle and cathedral.

A fine example of Early Gothic style. Seven pairs of stone pillars support the soaring vault of the nave.

The Early Gothic choir, planned and executed by Bishop Hugh in the 13th century.

On the left is the north choir aisle gate - a wonderfully decorated foliage arch. At the far end of the transept is a 14th century rose window known as the Bishop’s Eye.

The choir screen, known as the pulpitum encloses the choir on all four sides. Richly decorated with heads and figures of countless nonsensical creatures, set against a background of flower and leaf patterns. When installed in the 1330’s it was brightly painted in red and blue - some of which still survives.

The angel quire. English Decorated Gothic in all its glory. Richly decorated with wonderful carvings. It once contained the shrine of St Hugh. A place of pilgrimage since 1220 until it was destroyed by Henry VIII’s agents. Overlooking all is the 13th century great east window.

Lichfield has a unique arrangement of three spires, known locally as the Ladies of the Vale. The west front features 113 figures, only 5 of which are medieval.

The cathedral, built of sandstone is subject to constant conservation.

Litchfield’s 13th century nave has an uninterrupted view from west to east

George Gilbert Scott carried out a comprehensive refurbishment of the interior during the late 19th century.

The eastern limb of the cathedral was stripped of anything of value by Henry VIII, during the reformation. Any remaining tombs were smashed and looted by civil war troops.

It's a miracle that anything of Lichfield Cathedral survives. During the civil war the building was turned into a fortress. Shelling caused the central tower to collapse into the choir. Parliamentary troops occupied and wrecked the interior.

Liverpool Cathedral is the largest Anglican Cathedral ever built. Work began in 1902 and not finished until 1978. The architect was Giles Gilbert Scott.

Giles Gilbert Scott worked on Liverpool Cathedral for 6 decades. His ‘great space’ dispensed with the conventional idea of a nave. This view is from the Dulverton Bridge, through the ‘great space’ towards the High Altar.

Looking towards the High Altar and Benedicite Window. Below the window is a pink neon art installation by Tracey Emin. It reads - I felt you and I know you loved me.

The Lady Chapel was completed in 1910. The original stained glass was destroyed in 1940. The restored windows celebrate the role of women in the history of the church.

The stained glass over the west door, known as the Benedicite Window was designed by Carl Edwards. The window covers 149 sq m.

The Cathedral, designed by Frederick Gibberd was consecrated in 1967. Known affectionally as ‘Paddy’s Wigwam’, The cathedral was built on the site of the Poor Law Institution, or Workhouse. In 1900 over 4,000 were on it’s register.

In the centre of the Cathedral stands the sanctuary, containing the High Altar and bishop’s chair. Above hangs the great baldacchino - a tubular canopy symbolically protecting the altar. The circular nave can accommodate a congregation of over 2,000.

The cathedral’s circular plan contains chapels, with striking wall-hangings.

An immense Crypt designed to carry the weight of Lutyen’s unrealised Cathedral.

There has been a place of worship here since 1106. Hard to believe now, but in the 17th century Southwark Cathedral was the tallest building in London

Once, the dominant building on the south-bank. Now, you have to make an effort to find it.

Southwark was lucky to survive the bombing of the 2nd world war; the south wall was completely demolished during one bombing raid.

The choir dates from the early 13th century after much was destroyed by fire in 1212.

This grand, imposing screen was erected by Bishop Fox of Winchester in 1520.

The oldest part of the cathedral. dating from the 13th century.

The chapel commemorates the chief benefactor of Harvard University who was baptised at Southwark in 1607.

Fascinating memorial to Lionel Lockyer, sometimes spelled Lionel Lockier, (c.1600 – 26 April 1672) who was a 17th-century quack doctor famous for his miracle pills that he claimed included sunbeams as an ingredient. He was born in the Southwark area of London.

In 1469 the roof of the priory church collapsed and the stone vaulting was replaced by a carved wooden ceiling. This roof boss is from that ceiling and shows the Devil swallowing Judas Iscariot.

Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, work began in 1675, by 1711 the cathedral was completed - 12 years before Wren’s death at the age of 90.

The view from the millennium bridge is now the only uninterrupted view of St Paul’s. The once protected view from waterloo bridge has been in large, disregarded.

The Baptismal Font where people are welcomed into the church community.

Looking down on the Nave, towards the high altar.

St Paul's Cathedral was designed by Christopher Wren in the late seventeenth century as an elegant white space delineated by light and shadow. From the mid-nineteenth century parts of the interior were transformed by the addition of a magnificent series of mosaics. The most stunning examples are the mosaics in the quire and apse designed by the artist William Blake Richmond, which sparkle in vibrant colours and gold.

Queen Victoria complained that the place was ‘ dull, dingy and undevotional ‘ after which the ceiling was covered in mosaics and scenes representing the Song of Creation.

Wren’s interior was intentionally plain and unadorned. In the 19th century gilding and colour were introduced. The dome depicts the life of St Paul.

The cathedral organ has 7,256 pipes, 5 manuals and 138 stops and is one of the treasures of the cathedral.

Wren’s spectacular staircase has 88 treads and has featured in a number of films including Harry Potter and Prisoner of Azkaban.

Wren’s unrealised Great Model, now in the Cathedral’s Trophy Room, took about ten months to design from December 1672 to September 1673 and more than a year afterwards to build and decorate.

The crucifix at 9m and weighing 2 tonnes dominates the nave.

The ground floor arches and arcades are veneered in blue, grey, yellow and red marble.

The rich decoration of this chapel gives some indication of how the whole Cathedral would look if fully decorated.

This chapel is dedicated to the saints who first brought the Gospel to England.

St George was a Roman soldier, put to death for his faith. His cult was brought to England by the Crusaders, with King Edward III making him patron saint of England in the 14th century.

Christ Church, Oxford acts as both a cathedral and a college chapel. The plan of the present church, chapter house and cloister was finished in 1170. The spire, one of England’s earliest dates from c. 1230.

The shrine to St Frideswide stands in the centre of the chapel. The original shrine was smashed to pieces during the Reformation. Overlooking the shrine is a watching gallery, used by monks guarding against relic thieves.

The 12th century piers flank the narrow quire and nave.

Only the case remains from the original Father Smith instrument dating from 1680, a time after the Restoration of Charles II when organs which had been removed by the Puritans were being replaced.

Built on the site of a Benedictine abbey church. Raised to cathedral status by Henry VIII - his first wife, Catherine of Aragon is buried here.

It’s a miracle that anything survives. In 1643 Oliver Cromwell and his army came to Peterborough, causing so much damage that it was later considered for demolition.

The spectacular quire ceiling is fourteenth century. Blue, representing heaven is set against a network of gilded bosses.

The original ceiling dates back to the early 16th century. What we see now is a Victorian restoration.

The nave was never vaulted. What we see today is the earliest English cathedral painted ceiling dating from the 1250’s.

Above the choir hangs a rood, in bright red and gold. Created by George Pace and Frank Roper, it was installed in 1975.

The retroquire was built in the late 15th century. The court mason was John Wastell, a native of Bury St Edmunds.

Work on a new cathedral began in 1220, taking 50 years to complete. The spire at 123m is the tallest in Britain. A survey in 1668, by Sir Christopher Wren found the spire to be leaning to the south west by 29.5 inches, ( 75cm )

The exterior of Salisbury Cathedral is now scaffold-free, after 38 years of restoration work. The last of the scaffolding was removed in September 2023.

Designed by William Pye and installed in 2008.

The rear stalls on either side of the quire were a gift from Henry 111, in 1226.

On the LHS we see the canopied Bishop’s throne ( or kathedra, the Greek word from which we get the word cathedral)

The colours of the Wiltshire Regiment are displayed in the North Transept.

This is the oldest part of the cathedral. Completed in 1226. The chapel is dominated by the Prisoners of Conscience window. The work of Gabriel and Jacques Loire. It was completed in 1980.

St Albans is one of England’s earliest Christian foundations and commemorates Britain’s first Christian martyr, the Romano-British saint Alban.

St Albans has an extensive collection of medieval wall paintings dating from the late twelfth century - as seen on the LHS of the nave.

The screen installed in 1484 was severely damaged during the Reformation and civil war. Much of what we now see is a Victorian restoration.

For many centuries Alban’s shrine has been a focus for pilgrimage, healing and celebration. The watching loft on the RHS allowed supervision of the precious relics.

The great Norman crossing arches are decorated in stripes of black, red and white paint.

The beautiful Great Vault above the Presbytery dates to the thirteenth century.

Built in the 14th century in the Decorated style. From the Reformation to the 19th century, this chapel was used as a schoolroom.

The imposing west front of Wells Cathedral seen here from across the Cathedral Close has one of the most important galleries of 13th-century sculpture in northern Europe. It was completed by the addition of two towers in the late 14th to early 15th centuries.

Above the clock are two knights that strike, with their halberds the two bells every quarter hour.

The main arcades of the nave are an impressive example of early gothic design.

The scissor arches were installed between 1338 and 1348. The clock dates to the 14th century and remarkably, is still working today.

The Lady Chapel was completed in 1326. The roof vault also dates back to the 1320’s.

These arches were built between 1338 and 1348 to support the weight of the central tower.

The great east window dates from the 1340’s and is a beautiful example of 14th century glass.

An organ has been in this position since 1335.

The Chapter House was completed in 1306. Octagonal in shape and supported by this central pillar. The windows lost most of their glass when they were destroyed in the 17th century.

My version of the famous photograph ‘A Sea of Steps’, taken by Frederick H Evans in 1903.

There has been a church on this site for over 1,250 years. although the Cathedral is predominately a Norman structure.

The chantry chapels of William of Edington, died 1366, Bishop William of Wykham, died 1404, Cardinal Henry Beaufort, died 1447 and Bishop William Waynflete, died 1486.

Cardinal Beaufort died in 1447. He was three times the Chancellor of England.

One of the finest views of any English cathedral.

The Nave was extensively remodelled during the time of William of Wykeham, who was bishop from 1367 to 1404. He was one of the most powerful men in England at the time.

Swithun was Bishop of Winchester from 852 to his death in 863. His Shrine was an important place of pilgrimage in medieval England.

Within the crypt is the sculpture, Sound 11, a work by Anthony Gormley, installed in 1986.

In 983, the cathedral was established by Bishop Oswald. Rebuilt in 1084, with the final two western bays finished in 1170.

The nave has witnessed many great events since building began in 1084 - the burial of King John, the visit of Elizabeth 1. Charles II viewed the battle of Worcester from the tower.

Prominent in the quire is the tomb of King John. He died in 1216 at Newark and was brought to Worcester for burial.

Prince Arthur was the eldest son of Henry VII. He died in 1502, aged just 15.

The nave is a fine example of the 14th century gothic style.

The large organ was installed in 1874, and currently is not in use.

The stained glass is part of the Victorian restoration. It tells the story of the Life of Christ.

The quire stalls are a Victorian restoration, but they do incorporate the 14th century, wonderfully carved misericords.

The quire screen is a 19th century Victorian replacement. Designed by Gilbert Scott. The original medieval screen would have been a solid wall, separating the monks from the people in the nave.

Built on the site of a Roman basilica, York Minster towers over the city.

These two towers house the Minster’s 56 bells, including Great Peter, which strikes the hour.

The beautiful decorated gothic space is the widest and highest nave of any of England’s medieval cathedrals.

The original medieval quire, dating to 1420 was destroyed by arson in 1829.

The crossing supports the weight of the 60m central tower weighing 16,000 tonnes.

Known as the king’s screen, it contains life-sizes statues of the kings of England from William the Conquer (1066 - 1087) to Henry VI (1421 - 1471).

Henry VI, king of England between 1421 and 1471 is the last king to be represented.