Leicester Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leicester Cathedral |
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| Cathedral Church of Saint Martin | |
Leicester Cathedral from the south
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| Location | Leicester, Leicestershire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic |
| Years built | 1086–1867 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Spire height | 67.1 metres (220 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Leicester (since 1927) |
| Province | Canterbury |
Leicester Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Martin, is a special church in Leicester, England. It's a Church of England cathedral, which means it's the main church for the Bishop of Leicester. The church became a cathedral in 1927.
One of the most famous things about Leicester Cathedral is that it's the final resting place of King Richard III. His remains were found nearby in 2012 and were reburied in the cathedral in 2015. This happened 530 years after he died in battle.
Contents
History of Leicester Cathedral
Leicester Cathedral is located in the heart of Leicester's old town. It stands on the site of ancient Roman buildings. The church is named after St Martin of Tours, a Roman officer from the 4th century who later became a bishop.
Early Beginnings and Growth
The church was likely one of six mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. Parts of the building you see today date back to a Norman church from the 12th century. This church was rebuilt in the 13th and 15th centuries.
During the Middle Ages, St Martin's was next to Leicester's Guild Hall. This made it the city's main church, with strong connections to local merchants and guilds.
Victorian Changes and Cathedral Status
Much of the current building looks the way it does because of changes made in the Victorian era. The tower was finished in 1862, and the 220-foot spire was added in 1867. These were designed by architect Raphael Brandon. The tower and spire are very impressive and are based on a church in Rutland.
In 1927, St Martin's officially became Leicester's Cathedral. This was more than 1,000 years after the last Anglo-Saxon Bishop of Leicester had to leave because of invading Danes.
King Richard III's Reburial
Today, over 100,000 people visit Leicester Cathedral every year. Many come to see the tomb of King Richard III. He was the last English king to die in battle.
King Richard's remains were reburied in March 2015. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, led the ceremony. His magnificent tomb is made from a single piece of stone called Swaledale fossil stone, which weighs 3 tonnes.
Inside the cathedral, you can see the Pall. This is a special cloth that covered King Richard's coffin. It shows scenes from his life and how his body was found in a car park near the cathedral.
Other Interesting Features
You can also find 14th-century wooden carvings inside the Cathedral. These figures show people with different illnesses from that time. One even has a medieval hearing aid!
A church dedicated to St Martin has been on this spot for about 900 years. The current building dates back to the Norman period. It has been restored many times, especially by Victorian architect Raphael Brandon.
Memorials and Windows
A special memorial stone for Richard III used to be in the church. It was replaced by his actual tomb. King Richard was killed in 1485 at Bosworth Field. His remains were found in 2012 and confirmed in 2013.
The East Window was put in to remember those who died in World War I. It shows Jesus, angels, and saints like St George and Joan of Arc. There's even an image of a World War I soldier.
Recent Discoveries and Events
In 2004-2005, the tower and spire were cleaned and repaired. This cost a lot of money, with some donated by English Heritage and the rest from the public.
The cathedral has strong ties with Leicester Grammar School. Students used to attend services there regularly. Even though the school moved, the connection remains.
In 2011, the cathedral's offices moved to the old Leicester Grammar School building. It's now called St Martin's House and has conference rooms.
In 2014, the cathedral gardens were redesigned. A statue of Richard III from 1980 was placed there. Queen Elizabeth II visited the cathedral in 2017 to give out Maundy money.
Recent archaeological digs in 2022 found an old burial ground from the Anglo-Saxon period. In 2023, a 1,800-year-old Roman stone altar was discovered in the cathedral grounds.
Architecture of Leicester Cathedral
Leicester Cathedral is a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important historic building. It has a large main area called the nave and a special area for the choir called the chancel. It also has a 220-foot-tall spire added in 1862.
The building has been restored many times over the years. It mostly looks Gothic in style today. Inside, a large wooden screen separates the nave from the chancel. This screen was moved in 2015 to be in front of Richard III's tomb.
Vaughan Porch
The Vaughan Porch is on the south side of the church. It was designed by J. L. Pearson, who also designed Truro Cathedral. It's named after the Vaughan family, who were vicars (church leaders) for much of the 1800s.
The front of the porch has seven statues of saints in stone niches. Here are some of them:
- Guthlac (c. 673–713): A Christian saint from Lincolnshire.
- Hugh of Lincoln (c. 1135–1200): A French monk who helped rebuild Lincoln Cathedral.
- Robert Grosseteste (c. 1175–1253): An English scholar and Bishop of Lincoln.
- John Wycliffe (c. 1329–1384): An Oxford scholar known for encouraging the Bible to be translated into English.
- Henry Hastings (c. 1535–1595): The 3rd Earl of Huntingdon. Mary, Queen of Scots stayed at his Leicester home as a prisoner.
- William Chillingworth (1602–1643): An Oxford theologian and chaplain to the Royalist army.
- William Connor Magee (1821–1891): A Bishop of Peterborough who helped build many Victorian churches in Leicester.
Chapels
The cathedral has four chapels, each dedicated to a different saint. St Katharine's and St Dunstan's Chapels are used for smaller services. St George's Chapel honors the armed forces. The Chapel of Christ the King is new.
- St Katharine's Chapel: This chapel is on the north side. The window above the altar shows St Katharine. Below it is a carving of Jesus on the cross.
- St Dunstan's Chapel: This chapel is a quiet place for prayer. A candle burns to show that the sacrament (holy bread and wine) is kept here for those who are too ill to come to church. The walls have memorials to people who prayed here.
- St George's Chapel: This chapel was for the Guild of St George. It used to hold a statue of St George on a horse, which was carried in a yearly procession. The chapel has memorials to soldiers from Leicestershire.
- Chapel of Christ the King: This new chapel was created when the cathedral was updated for Richard III's burial.
Services
Leicester Cathedral follows the traditions of the Church of England. It uses the Common Worship book for its main Sunday services.
Cathedral Choir
The Leicester Cathedral Choir includes a Boys Choir, a Girls Choir, and Cathedral Songmen. Boys and girls come from schools across Leicester. Many songmen started as young singers and stayed with the choir.
The cathedral also offers scholarships to university students. The choir sometimes records CDs. They also join choirs from Derby, Coventry, and Southwell Minster for a special festival each year.
Choir Tours
The cathedral choir often tours to other countries, usually every three to four years. They have visited Japan, the United States, Germany, and France. In other years, they spend a week singing at another English cathedral, like Lincoln or York.
Organ and Organists
The Organ
The main organ was installed in 1873. It has been rebuilt several times since then. You can find details about the organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Organists and Directors of Music
The cathedral has had many talented organists and directors of music over the years. These include:
- Richard Hobbs (to 1753)
- Martha Greatorex (1772–1800)
- Charles Hancock (1875–1927)
- Gordon Archbold Slater (1927–1931)
- George Charles Gray (1931–1969)
- Peter Gilbert White (1969–1994)
- Jonathan Gregory (1994–2010)
- Christopher Ouvry-Johns (2011–present)
Bells
The cathedral tower has 13 bells, including a set of 12 that can be rung together. You can hear them on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings. Special bell ringing happens on important days. The largest bell weighs over 25 hundredweight.
The bells have special inscriptions on them. These inscriptions often mention the people who helped pay for the bells or who they are dedicated to. They also include dates and short prayers.
Tomb of Richard III
In August 2012, a team from Leicester City Council, the University of Leicester, and the Richard III Society started looking for King Richard III's remains. They searched under a car park in Leicester.
On March 26, 2015, Richard III was reburied in Leicester Cathedral. This was a very important event, as he was the first English monarch to be reburied in 43 years.
The tomb was designed by van Heyningen and Haward Architects. The tombstone is a large block of pale stone from North Yorkshire. It has a cross carved into it. This stone rests on a dark base with Richard's name, dates, and motto carved into it. His coat of arms is also on the base.
King Richard III's remains are in a lead box inside an English oak coffin. This coffin was made by Michael Ibsen, who is a direct descendant of Richard's sister. The coffin is in a brick vault under the floor, beneath the tombstone.
See also
