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

The Decorated Gothic Style 

of Exeter Cathedral’s Fan-Vaulted Ceiling.

Photo: 3 August 2006.

Source: Own work.

Author: Wanner-Laufer

(Wikimedia Commons)

Text from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,

unless stated otherwise.

Four other Churches are associated with this tradition: 

Saint John the Baptist Church, Chester;

Old Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London;

Bath Abbey;

The destroyed Benedictine Abbey of Coventry. 

The Collegiate Church of Saint John the Baptist, Chester, was raised to Cathedral status in 1075, but became a Co-Cathedral in 1102, when the See was removed to Coventry. 

The current building was probably begun around the time of the See’s removal. Saint Paul’s, London, a Cathedral with a Secular Chapter, was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and was replaced by the present Cathedral in the Baroque Style, designed by Christopher Wren. 

Peterborough Cathedral.

An Anglo-Norman Romanesque treasure.

Available on YouTube

HERE

Bath Abbey was Co-Cathedral of the Diocese of Bath and Wells, along with Wells Cathedral. Although a large Church, architecturally it does not fit the Cathedral tradition, but has much in common with King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, and Saint George’s Chapel, Windsor. 

The Abbey Church at Coventry, was Co-Cathedral with Lichfield Cathedral and Saint John the Baptist, Chester, in the Diocese of Lichfield, but was destroyed at The Dissolution Of The Monasteries.

The large Parish Church of Saint Michael’s, Coventry, became Coventry Cathedral in 1918. It was bombed during World War II, leaving intact only its Spire, regarded as one of the finest in England. 

The Perpendicular Style of architecture 

in the Choir of York Minster.

Photo: 10 August 2005 (original upload date).

Source: Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons.

Author: Bala Amavasai at en.wikipedia

(Wikimedia Commons)

The new Coventry Cathedral, designed by Sir Basil Spence, was Consecrated in 1962 and adjoins the shell of the ancient Church.[2][4][10]

Cathedrals are places where the Christian rituals particular to a Bishop, especially Ordination and Enthronement, can be performed, and are structured and furnished for these purposes. 

Each Cathedral contains the Seat of the local Bishop, often literally a large Throne. The Bishop’s Throne is located towards the East End of the Cathedral, near The High Altar, which is the main focus of Worship.

In the Early Medieval period, the Altar always contained, or was associated with, the Relics of a Saint. [Editor: Catholic Churches continue this practice, even today]

Seats are provided for the significant Clergy of the Cathedral: The Dean; Precentor; Sacristan; Archdeacon; Canons.

PART EIGHT FOLLOWS.