The Twenty-Six Mediæval Cathedrals Of England (Part Six).

English: Wells Cathedral.

Français: Cathédrale de Wells, Somerset, Angleterre.

Photo: 6 May 2005.

Source: Own work.

Author: Antoine

(Wikimedia Commons)

Text from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,

unless stated otherwise.

All the Mediæval buildings that are now Cathedrals of England were Roman Catholic in origin, as they pre-date The Reformation. All these buildings now serve The Church of England as a result of the change to the official Religion of the Country, which occurred in 1534 during the reign of King Henry VIII.

The Cathedrals fall into three distinct groups, depending on their earlier organisational structure:

First, there are those that, during the Mediæval period, as now, were governed by a body of Secular Clergy, or Chapter, presided over by a Dean.

These Cathedrals are: 

Chichester;

Exeter;

Hereford;

Lichfield;

Lincoln;

London;

Salisbury;

Wells;

York.

All of the above were built specifically to serve as Cathedral Churches.

The Secrets Of Wells Cathedral.

The First Gothic Cathedral In England.

Available on YouTube

HERE

Second, there was a group of Monastic Cathedrals in which the Bishop was Titular Abbot. These Cathedrals are:

Canterbury;

Carlisle;

Durham;

Ely;

Norwich;

Rochester;

Wincheste;

Worcester. 

Peterborough Cathedral.

Photo: 15 May 2017.

Source: Own work.

Author: Michael D Beckwith

(Wikimedia Commons)

These Monasteries (above) were Benedictine, except in the case of Carlisle, which was Augustinian. Six of these Churches were built from the start as Cathedrals. 

Carlisle and Ely are purely Monastic Churches, which then became the Seat of a Bishop during the course of construction. 

At The Dissolution Of The Monasteries, under King Henry VIII, all the previously Monastic Cathedrals became governed by Secular Canons, like the first group.

Salisbury Cathedral.

Photo: 11 March 2016.

Source: Salisbury, England.

Author: Pedro Szekely, Los Angeles, USA

(Wikimedia Commons)

Third, those Churches established as new Cathedrals since The Reformation. They include five great Mediæval Abbey Churches established as new Cathedrals under King Henry VIII: 

Bristol Cathedral;

Chester Cathedral; 

Gloucester Cathedral;

Oxford Cathedral;

Peterborough Cathedral. 

Five more large Churches later became Cathedrals:

Saint Albans Cathedral;

Southwark Cathedral.

Both of the above were of Monastic Foundation.

Manchester Cathedral;

Ripon Cathedral;

Southwell Cathedral.

The three Cathedrals, above, were Collegiate Churches (and all of which consequently combine the functions of Cathedral and Parish Church).

Westminster Abbey was a Benedictine Monastery that became a Cathedral after The Dissolution Of The Monasteries, but only for ten years.

PART SEVEN FOLLOWS.