Chester Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chester Cathedral |
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| Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary | |
East side of the cathedral
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| Location | St Werburgh Street, Chester, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | chestercathedral.com |
| History | |
| Dedication | Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Richard Lenginour (1272–1314); Nicholas de Derneford (?)(1316–31); William Rediche(?) (1461–90s); Seth and George Derwall (1495–1530s); Thomas Harrison, George Gilbert Scott |
| Style | Romanesque, Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 355 feet (108 m) |
| Nave width | 75 feet (23 m) |
| Nave height | 78 feet (24 m) |
| Tower height | 127 feet (39 m) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Chester |
| Province | York |
Chester Cathedral is a famous church in the city of Chester, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This cathedral is the main church for the Diocese of Chester, which is a large church area.
Before it became a cathedral, it was a Benedictine monastery. This was a place where monks lived and worshipped. The cathedral is dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since 1541, it has been the main church for the Bishop of Chester.
Chester Cathedral is a very old and important building. It is a Grade I listed building, meaning it has special historical value. The cathedral was built over many centuries, from the 10th to the early 16th century. It has been changed and added to many times. This is common for old English cathedrals.
You can see different building styles in the cathedral. These range from Norman to Perpendicular styles. The cathedral and its old monastery buildings were fixed up a lot in the 1800s. A separate bell tower was added in the 1900s. Today, the cathedral is a popular place for visitors. It hosts church services, concerts, and art shows.
Contents
Discovering Chester Cathedral's Past
Chester was a very important city during the Roman times. Some people believe a Christian church stood here even then. Later, in Saxon times, a chapel on this site was dedicated to Saint Werburgh. In 958, King Edgar gave land to this church.
Around 907, Chester was made stronger against Viking attacks. Soon after, Saint Werburgh's remains were moved here. In 1057, the church was restored by Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and Lady Godiva. However, this church was later torn down around 1090.
From Abbey to Cathedral
In 1093, a Benedictine abbey was started on this site. This was done by Hugh Lupus, with help from St Anselm. The oldest parts of the building you see today are from this time.
The abbey church was not a cathedral back then. It became a cathedral of the Church of England in 1541. This happened by order of King Henry VIII. At this time, the church was dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin. The last head of the abbey, Thomas Clarke, became the first dean of the new cathedral.
Building Through the Centuries
While little is left of the 10th-century church, much of the 1093 monastery remains. You can see this Norman style in the northwest tower and the north transept. The abbey church was largely rebuilt in the Gothic style. This happened during the 1200s and 1300s.
By the time the monasteries were closed down, new parts had just been built. These included the cloister, the central tower, and a new south transept. These were in the Perpendicular style. The front of the church also got a Tudor entrance.
Restorations and New Additions
In the 1600s, the area under the southwest tower became a bishop's court. This court is still there today, which is very rare in England. For many centuries, no major building work happened. By the 1800s, the building needed a lot of repair.
Most of what the cathedral looks like from the outside today is thanks to George Gilbert Scott. He was a Victorian architect who restored the building in the 1800s. In the 1900s, more repairs and changes were made. A separate belfry, called the Addleshaw Tower, was built in 1973–75. This tower holds the cathedral bells.
In 2005, a new Song School was added. The cathedral library was also updated and reopened in 2007. The cathedral and its old monastic buildings are protected as Grade I listed buildings.
Exploring the Cathedral's Design
Cathedral Layout
Chester Cathedral faces east to west, like many cathedrals. The main altar is at the eastern end. The building has a cross shape, with a central tower. However, it's not perfectly even. The north transept is smaller, left from an earlier building. The south transept is unusually large.
The front of the building is also uneven. The north tower is from the Norman period. The south tower was started in the early 1500s but never finished. To the north of the cathedral are the old monastery buildings. These include the cloister, the dining hall (refectory), and a rectangular meeting room (chapter house).
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1. West door |
16. St. Werburgh's Chapel |
a. Font |
n. organ |
Outside the Cathedral
Chester Cathedral is built from red sandstone. This stone is good for carving but can wear away easily. Because of this, Chester is one of the most restored cathedrals in England. Most of the current look comes from the 1800s restoration.
The south transept is as big as the nave and choir. This makes the building look balanced from the south. The central tower is from the late 1400s. Its four large towers were added during the 1800s restoration by George Gilbert Scott.
The outside of the cathedral looks quite uniform. This is unusual for English cathedrals, which often show many different styles. If you look closely, you can see window designs from the 1200s to the early 1500s.
The front of the cathedral has a large window in the Perpendicular style. Below it is a doorway from the early 1500s. The west towers were never fully completed. The north tower is Norman, and the south tower was started in 1508. The main entrance to the cathedral is through the southwest porch. This porch is in a fancy Tudor style.
Inside the Cathedral
Inside, Chester Cathedral has a warm, reddish glow from the sandstone. It feels very spacious. The view from the west end to the east end is clear. The nave, which is the main part of the church, is wide and tall. The columns are far apart, and the roof is made of wood, not stone.
Norman Features
Most of the current building was built between 1283 and 1537. It replaced an older Norman church from 1093. Some parts of the Norman church still remain. You can see Norman designs in the north transept. This area has old wall arches and a large arch leading to the sacristy. The north transept also has a ceiling from the early 1500s.
The northwest tower is also Norman. It is used as the baptistry and holds a black marble font from 1697. Part of the north wall of the nave is also Norman. You can see it from the cloister.
Gothic Styles
The chapter house, built between 1230 and 1265, is in the Early English Gothic style. It is a rectangular room with simple windows. The Lady Chapel, at the eastern end, was built between 1265 and 1290. It holds the Shrine of St Werburgh from the 1300s. The Lady Chapel is the only part of the cathedral with a stone roof.
The choir, where the main services are held, was built between 1283 and 1315. It is an early example of Decorated Gothic style. The choir has beautiful, detailed arches and a gallery. The wooden roof was restored in the 1800s. The choir stalls, from about 1380, are one of the cathedral's most famous features.
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The nave and the large south transept were started around 1323. Work stopped in 1375 because of a serious plague. Building on the nave started again in 1485, more than 150 years later! The architect kept the original design. The nave has a star-shaped wooden roof.
From about 1493 to 1537, architects Seth and George Derwall worked on the cathedral. Seth Derwall finished the south transept in the Perpendicular Gothic style. He also built the central tower, southwest porch, and cloisters. The central tower is a "lantern tower" with large windows that let light into the middle of the church.
Old Monastery Buildings
The cloister is a covered walkway. It was built in the late 1400s. The south wall of the cloister is also the north wall of the cathedral nave. Under the cloisters is an undercroft from the early 1100s. Monks used it to store food.
Above the abbot's passage is St Anselm's Chapel, also from the 1100s. The refectory, the monks' dining hall, was built in the 1200s. It has an Early English pulpit with a staircase. This is a very rare feature in England.
Restoring the Cathedral
By the 1800s, the cathedral's stone was badly worn. Between 1818 and 1820, architect Thomas Harrison restored the south transept. The most extensive restoration was done by George Gilbert Scott from 1868 to 1876. He almost completely refaced the cathedral. Scott also redesigned the tower, adding turrets.
Scott's work was sometimes criticized. Some people felt he was rebuilding, not just restoring. This debate helped create the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. Later, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, more work was done by Arthur Blomfield and Giles Gilbert Scott.
The Bell Tower
In the 1960s, the cathedral bells needed repair. It was decided to build a new, separate bell tower. This tower, called the Addleshaw Tower, was finished in 1975. It was the first detached bell tower built for an English cathedral since the 1400s. It is made of concrete with sandstone at its base. Between the bell tower and the south transept is a garden. It remembers soldiers from the Cheshire Regiment.
Special Features and Art
Choir Stalls
The choir stalls are a highlight of Chester Cathedral. They date from about 1380. They have tall, spiky tops and detailed carvings. The stalls include 48 misericords. These are small seats that flip up. Most are original and show funny or strange scenes. Experts say they are among the best in the country.
The Organ
The cathedral's organ was first installed in 1844. It has been rebuilt and improved several times. Today, it is located at the front of the north transept. The organ is cared for by David Wells of Liverpool.
Stained Glass Windows
Chester Cathedral has many beautiful stained glass windows. Most of them are from the 1800s and 1900s. This is because many older windows were damaged during the Civil War. You can see examples from different periods of stained glass design.
Some windows commemorate soldiers who died in World War I. There are also modern windows. The refectory window from 2001 shows the Creation. Three modern windows in the south aisle were added in 1992. They celebrate the cathedral's 900th anniversary.
The west end of the nave has a huge window. It shows the Holy Family and northern saints. The stone pulpit was designed by R. C. Hussey. The lectern is from 1876. The floor in the tower area has a mosaic designed by John Howson. Mosaics on the north aisle wall show important figures like Abraham and Moses.
The Quire (Choir)
The quire has the famous choir stalls from about 1380. The lectern, shaped like a wooden eagle, is from the 1600s. Most other decorations in the quire are from the 1800s. The restored wooden roof was designed by Scott.
The quire is entered through a screen designed by George Gilbert Scott. The bishop's throne was also designed by Scott. The altar screen and floor mosaic are from 1876. The east window has beautiful stained glass from 1884.
Lady Chapel
The 13th-century Lady Chapel holds the stone shrine of Saint Werburgh. This shrine is from the 1300s. It used to hold her relics. The shrine was taken apart during the closing of the monasteries. Parts were found in 1873 and put back together in 1888. A carving of St Werburgh was added in 1993. The stained glass in the chapel is from 1859.
North Quire Aisle
The north quire aisle has a stone screen and an iron gate from 1558. At the end of the aisle is the chapel of St Werburgh. It has a window showing the Nativity from 1857. Other stained glass windows in this aisle are by different artists.
North Transept and Chapter House
The small Norman transept has stained glass windows from 1853. In the north transept is a monument to John Pearson, who died in 1686. There are also memorials to soldiers from the Cheshire Yeomanry. A special "cobweb painting" is also here. It's painted on a caterpillar's web!
The chapter house has stained glass in its east window. It also contains an oak cupboard from the late 1200s.
South Choir Aisle
The south aisle was shortened around 1870. It became the chapel of St Erasmus. The stained glass in its window is from 1872. Below it is a mosaic and a fresco painting. This aisle also holds the tomb of Ranulf Higdon, a monk from the 1100s.
South Transept
The south transept used to be the parish church of St Oswald. It has four chapels, each with an altar screen. The south window is from 1887. The west wall has many memorials. These include a monument to those who died on HMS Chester in 1916. This included 16-year-old Jack Cornwell, a hero. There are also memorials to the Cheshire Regiment and the Royal Air Force.
Cloisters and Refectory
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The cloisters were restored in the 1900s. Their windows show images of about 130 saints. The cloister garden has a modern sculpture called The water of life. The refectory roof is from 1939. The west window, showing the Creation, was installed in 2001. On the refectory's west wall is a tapestry from the 1600s.
The Cathedral Library
Chester Cathedral has had a library since the time of St Werburgh's Abbey. It grew over centuries but was neglected by the 1800s. It was enlarged and reorganized several times. In the 2000s, it was refurbished and reopened in 2007. The library is used for research and group visits.
Cathedral Life and Music
Leadership and Services
The cathedral is a place for Christian worship. It holds two services every day. On Sundays, there are four or five services. Holy Communion is held daily. Choral Evensong, a sung evening service, is held every day except Wednesday.
Music at the Cathedral
The main musician is Philip Rushforth, the Organist and Master of the Choristers. There are organ concerts every Thursday at 1:10pm. You can find the monthly music program on the cathedral's website.
Organists
The first recorded organist was John Brycheley in 1541. Famous organists include composers Robert White and John Sanders.
Choirs
Chester has had a choir for 900 years. This tradition started with the Benedictine monastery. In 1741, Handel heard his famous Messiah for the first time in Chester.
The cathedral has a choir of men and boy and girl choristers. They practice in the Song School. They sing at services, perform concerts, and make recordings. There is also a Nave Choir, which is a mixed-voice choir. It is the longest-running volunteer cathedral choir in Britain.
Activities and Visits
Besides services, the cathedral hosts many events. These include concerts, exhibitions, and tours. Weekly organ recitals are held on Thursdays. The cathedral and its grounds are open to visitors. The old Refectory is now a café. Other rooms can be rented for meetings and events.
Important Burials
Many important people are buried at Chester Cathedral:
- Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester (died 1101), the founder of the abbey.
- Several other Earls of Chester, including Ranulf le Meschin, 3rd Earl of Chester and Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester.
- Ranulf Higden (c. 1280–1364), a monk and historian.
- Several Bishops of Chester, such as John Pearson and Samuel Peploe.
- George Clarke of Hyde, a former Colonial Governor of New York.
- Frederick Philipse III, a wealthy landowner from New York.
Images for kids
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The Lady Chapel has Lancet Gothic windows with mid-19th-century glass by William Wailes (1859) depicting the Passion, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ.
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The south transept window, Flowing Decorated Gothic, with High Victorian glass by Heaton Butler and Bayne (1887)
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The three Westminster windows by Alan Younger (1992) celebrate the 900th anniversary of the cathedral.
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See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Chester para niños
- Architecture of the medieval cathedrals of England
- English Gothic architecture
- Grade I listed buildings in Cheshire West and Chester
- Grade I listed churches in Cheshire
- Norman architecture in Cheshire
- List of works by Thomas Harrison
- List of works by George Pace
- Three hares
