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

The Fan-Vaulted Cloisters at Gloucester Cathedral, 

which was a Benedictine Abbey from 1022 to 1539.

Photo: 26 May 2007.

Source: Own work.

Author: William Avery

(Wikimedia Commons)

At the Norman conquest, most English Cathedrals were already richly endowed, and as major centres of Norman power they were then able to acquire further lands formerly held by dispossessed English landowners.

Furthermore, the development of Tithe as a compulsory tax on agricultural production resulted in greatly increased incomes for incumbent Clergy. Although all Cathedrals gathered donations from worshippers and pilgrims, in practice major building campaigns were largely, or entirely, funded from the accumulated wealth of the Bishop and the Chapter Clergy.

The availability of finance largely determined the speed of construction for major projects. When money was readily available, Cathedral works could proceed with great speed. At Winchester, during the Norman period, an entire Cathedral of unprecedented size, begun in 1079, was built from scratch in less than twenty years.

Lincoln Cathedral had a Chapter of Secular Canons, 

for whom the earliest polygonal Chapter House was built.

Original uploader User: Mark.murphy

This File: 10 February 2006.

User: Agtfjott

(Wikimedia Commons)

An important aspect in the practice of Mediæval Christianity was the Veneration of Saints, and the associated pilgrimages to places where particular Saint’s relics were interred and their tradition honoured.

The possession of the relics of a popular Saint was a source of funds to the individual Church, as The Faithful made donations and benefices in the hope that they might receive spiritual aid, a Blessing, or a healing, from the presence of the physical remains of the holy person.

Winchester Cathedral is the longest Mediæval Church 

in the World, 169 metres (554 feet).

Photo: 22 March 2005.

Source: Own work.

Author: user:Tysto, Ingo Rickmann

(Wikimedia Commons)

Among those Churches to benefit from Pilgrims were:

Saint Alban’s Abbey, which contained the relics of England’s first Christian Martyr;

Ripon Cathedral, with the Shrine of its Founder, Saint Wilfrid;

Durham Cathedral, which was built to house the body of Saint Cuthbert of Lindisfarne and the body of Saint Aidan;

Ely Cathedral, with the Shrine of Saint Etheldreda;

Westminster Abbey, with the magnificent Shrine of its Founder, Saint Edward the Confessor;

Chichester Cathedral, with the relics of Saint Richard;

Winchester Cathedral, with the relics of Saint Swithun.

PART FOUR FOLLOWS.