Winchester Cathedral facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Winchester Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, St Peter, St Paul and St Swithun
View of the long nave, central tower and west end.
Winchester Cathedral Location in Hampshire
51°3′38″N 1°18′47″W / 51.06056°N 1.31306°W / 51.06056; -1.31306
Location	Winchester, Hampshire
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Previous denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk
History
Dedication	Holy Trinity Paul the Apostle Peter the Apostle Swithun
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	24 March 1950
Style	Norman, Gothic
Years built	1079–1532
Groundbreaking	1079; 946 years ago (1079)
Specifications
Length	558 ft 1 in (170.1 m)
Nave width	82 feet (25 m) (including aisles)
Nave height	78 feet (24 m)
Floor area	53,480 square feet (4,968 m2)
Tower height	150 feet (46 m)
Bells	14 + sharp 4th and flat 8th
Tenor bell weight	35 long cwt 2 qr 6 lb (3,982 lb / 1,806 kg)
Administration
Diocese	Winchester (since c. 650)
Province	Canterbury

Winchester Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Swithun, is a huge and historic church in Winchester, England. It is one of the largest cathedrals in Northern Europe. This amazing building is the main church for the Diocese of Winchester and is led by a dean.

The cathedral you see today was built between 1079 and 1532. It is dedicated to several saints, especially Swithun of Winchester. It has a very long and wide main area called the nave, built in the Perpendicular Gothic style. It also features older Norman parts like the transepts and tower. At 558 feet (170 m) long, it is the longest medieval cathedral in the world. Only a few more modern churches are longer. With an area of 53,480 square feet (4,968 m²), it is also the sixth-largest cathedral in the UK.

Winchester Cathedral is a popular place to visit. In 2019, about 365,000 people came to see it.

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History of Winchester Cathedral

Early Churches in Winchester

Churches existed in Winchester as early as 164 AD. The first Christian church was built around 648 AD by King Cenwalh of Wessex. This small, cross-shaped building was called the Old Minster. It became the main church for the new Diocese of Winchester in 662 AD. The diocese covered a huge area from the English Channel to the River Thames.

We don't know exactly what this early church looked like. Bishop Swithun, one of the most famous Bishops of Winchester, lived later. From 963 to 984, Bishop Æthelwold greatly expanded the Old Minster. It was rededicated in 993. It had a central tower, aisles, transepts, a crypt, and an apse. For a short time, it was the largest church in Europe.

Another church, the New Minster, was also built nearby. Alfred the Great started it, and his son Edward the Elder finished it in 901. These two monasteries were very close. Swithun's body, which was first buried outside, was moved inside to a beautiful shrine.

The Norman Cathedral

After William the Conqueror took over England in 1066, he appointed his friend Walkelin as the first Norman Bishop of Winchester in 1070. Nine years later, in 1079, Walkelin started building a massive new Norman cathedral. It was located just south of the Old and New Minsters, where the current building stands.

The new cathedral's east end was finished and dedicated in 1093. Many Saxon kings' tombs were moved from the Old Minster to the new cathedral. The very next day, the Old and New Minsters were torn down. You can still see the outline of the Old Minster today, north of the current nave.

Work quickly moved to the transepts and central tower. These parts were finished by 1100, when William Rufus was buried under the crossing tower. Building the nave was likely paused in 1107 when the central tower collapsed. But work restarted after the tower was rebuilt. It was finished before Bishop William Giffard died in 1129.

Much of this early building work was very strong. Many parts still survive today, especially the transepts. They look almost as Walkelin left them. This Norman cathedral was huge, over 500 feet (150 m) long. It still forms the main part of the building today.

Gothic Changes and Expansions

The first big change to Walkelin's cathedral happened in 1202. Bishop Godfrey de Luci began building a new retrochoir in the Early English style. Luci died in 1204, but the work continued. This led to the old Norman apse being removed.

More changes and rebuilding took place in the mid-14th century. In 1346, Bishop Edington took down the Norman west front. He started building a new Perpendicular Gothic front with a huge west window, which is still there. Edington also began renovating the nave.

Most of the nave renovation was done by his successors. The most famous was William of Wykeham and his master builder, William Wynford. They transformed the massive Norman nave into a stunning Perpendicular Gothic masterpiece. They did this by covering the Norman stone with new ashlar (cut stone). They reshaped the pillars with Gothic arches. They also changed the three-level nave into two levels. The wooden ceiling was replaced with a beautiful stone vault. This work continued after Wykeham's death in 1404 and was finished around 1420.

Wykeham's successor, Henry Beaufort (1405–1447), added a chantry (a small chapel for prayers) on the south side of the retrochoir. From 1450 to 1528, under Bishops William Waynflete, Peter Courtenay, Thomas Langton, and Richard Foxe, major rebuilding happened. They worked on the Norman choir and Early English retrochoir. This included building more chantry chapels. They replaced the Norman east end with a Perpendicular Gothic presbytery. Luci's retrochoir was also extended into a Lady Chapel. Unlike the nave, the Gothic presbytery was vaulted in wood and painted to look like stone. The east end is now about 110 feet (34 m) longer than Walkelin's original building.

The Dissolution of Monasteries

King Henry VIII took control of the Catholic Church in England. He declared himself head of the new Church of England. The Benedictine monastery, the Priory of Saint Swithun, was closed down. The priory gave up its land to the king in 1539. The shrine of St Swithun was destroyed.

The next year, a new group of clergy was formed. The last prior, William Basyng, became the dean. Mary I married Philip II of Spain here in 1554. The monastery buildings, like the cloister, were later torn down. This happened mostly during the time of Bishop Robert Horne (1560–1580).

Changes from the 17th to 19th Centuries

The 17th century brought important changes inside the cathedral. A new screen was put in the choir by Inigo Jones in 1638–39. A wooden fan vault was added under the central tower. Before this, the tower was open to the church below. In December 1642, Parliamentarian soldiers destroyed much of the medieval glass and art. This included almost completely smashing the huge Great West Window. Townspeople later put the window back together like a mosaic. But it never looked the same because the damage was too great.

In the 18th century, many visitors noted that the cathedral and town were neglected. Major restoration work began in the early 19th century. Jane Austen was buried in the north nave aisle in 1817. Many visitors still come today to see her grave.

20th Century Restoration

Around 1900, Winchester Cathedral was in serious danger of falling down. By 1905, huge cracks appeared in the walls. Some were big enough for a small child to crawl into. The walls were bulging and leaning, and stone was falling. The Dean, William Furneaux, called in a famous architect, Thomas G. Jackson.

Jackson's report was worrying. It showed the whole building was leaning and sinking into the soft ground. This was probably due to problems with the foundations. Large parts of the building had to be supported with timber. The first cost estimate for repairs in 1905 was £20,000.

Jackson realized he needed more help. He brought in engineer Francis Fox. Fox and Jackson dug a trench to the foundations of the east end. They found that the Normans had built the cathedral on a "floating raft." This raft was made of a 15-inch-thick layer of beech trees, laid diagonally. Some of these trees had rotted, causing the cathedral to shift and sink. The soft ground could not support the building's huge weight.

Fox and Jackson planned to dig trenches around the east end, about 50 of them. They would go down to a solid gravel layer. Then they would build up to the raft with concrete and brick. But the upper walls were so weak that digging underneath could make the building collapse. So, Fox started filling the cracks in the walls with grout.

After grouting, a new problem appeared. When they dug through the peat layer to reach the gravel, water rushed up 14 feet high. The peat had acted like a seal. When it was broken, water from the nearby River Itchen flooded the trenches. Jackson ordered a powerful pump to remove the water. This caused an argument between Fox and Jackson. Fox thought pumping could make the foundations even more unstable.

In spring 1906, Fox was proven right. The cathedral was still moving and sinking, and faster than before. It became clear there was a serious risk to lives. Fox visited the site in March 1906. He was worried because the pumped water was cloudy, containing chalk. He ordered the pumping to stop. The pump had disturbed a layer of chalk silt, making the building even more unstable. Jackson didn't want to stop pumping, as he saw no other way.

However, Fox called for a diver, William Walker, from London. Walker arrived on April 5, 1906. Walker was perhaps the most experienced diver in the country. His job was incredibly difficult. He had to go down into the flooded trenches in a heavy diving suit. The trenches were cramped and pitch-black. Walker had to feel his way around with his hands. The water was also full of old graves, making it unhealthy.

Walker worked 6 to 7 hours almost every day for six years. He dived under most of the cathedral. He removed the peat and laid bags of cement to stop the water from coming up. When he finished in 1911, the pump could be used safely. In 1911, flying buttresses were added along the south nave to complete the work.

A special service was held in 1912, attended by the King and Queen. They gave thanks for the work of Jackson, Fox, and Walker. Walker later received an award, the MVO. He is credited with saving the cathedral from collapse. The total cost of the work was £113,000. Walker laid over 25,000 bags of concrete, 115,000 concrete blocks, and 900,000 bricks.

21st Century Changes

In February 2000, a three-year project finished. It cleaned and preserved the nave and west front. These parts were last cleaned in 1897. For three years, the nave was covered with scaffolding. After the scaffolding was removed, it was the first time the cathedral interior was clear since 1990.

In August 2006, a fire was almost started. A flying Chinese lantern landed on the roof and began to set it on fire. Luckily, the fire was quickly put out, and no lasting damage occurred. Fire officials said it could have been as bad as the 1984 fire at York Minster.

In March 2011, a new small extension was finished. It was built in the corner of the north presbytery aisle. It's called the Fleury building. It was the first new extension since the Lady Chapel was extended in the 16th century. The new building has toilets, storage, and a new boiler. It cost £820,000, raised by the Friends of Winchester Cathedral.

2012–2019 Restoration Project

In September 2012, fundraising began for a £19 million repair project. This project aimed to fix and preserve the old stained-glass windows. It also restored the wooden vault of the presbytery. The lead roof of the east end was replaced. The building was rewired with a new sound system. A new exhibition about the Winchester Bible was planned.

In late 2012, scaffolding was put up inside the presbytery. This allowed close inspection of the vault and windows. The inspection showed severe damage to the windows. Many had holes and broken glass. The old lead roof was failing, damaging the 16th-century wooden vault. A test cleaning showed original 16th-century paint under the 1950s paint on the roof bosses. In July 2013, a £10.5 million grant helped start the restoration.

In 2014, a large scaffold was installed below the vault in the presbytery. It stayed there for four years. This scaffold allowed workers to repair the vaults and windows up close. It weighed 5 tonnes. Also in 2014, the south transept was emptied. About 7,000 books were moved from the library. This was to prepare for the new "Kings and Scribes" exhibition. The south transept was then filled with scaffolding and sealed off for nearly three years.

In January 2015, a huge scaffolding frame was built outside. In March 2015, a 300-tonne crane lifted the 27-tonne frame onto the roof. It was 80 feet high. This frame was shaped to the roof and covered to keep out water. Over the next few weeks, 54 tonnes of old lead were removed from the roof. This lead dated back to the early 19th century. This part of the work finished in May 2016.

As part of the south transept restoration, a statue was found on its gable end in 2017. The original statue was made of soft Caen stone and was in bad shape. Its head had broken off. A new statue of a medieval church leader was carved from stronger Portland stone. By February 2017, the cathedral was close to its fundraising goal of £20.5 million. A pit was also made in the south transept floor for a future lift. This lift would make the exhibition accessible to everyone.

In June 2017, the lift shaft was installed. It weighed 4 tonnes and rose 12.6 meters from the floor. To do this, the 12th-century vault of the south transept aisle was carefully opened. The lift shaft stands on its own and does not touch the old walls. By November, the last clerestory window was put back. These windows had been removed for restoration. The Great East Window was also restored. Conservation work began on eight windows in the north transept. This included the oldest stained-glass window, from 1330. A new oak floor was installed in the triforium. The glass lift was installed, with 18 panels, the largest weighing 550 kilograms.

Starting in January 2018, the internal scaffolding was slowly removed. This allowed people to see the repaired vault and windows for the first time in almost four years. The stone screen behind the altar, called the Great Screen, was cleaned. It dates from 1450 to 1476 and was last cleaned in 1890.

The entire project finished on May 21, 2019. The "Kings and Scribes" exhibition opened in the south transept. All scaffolding was removed. The south transept, which had been closed for five years, reopened.

Architecture of the Cathedral

Winchester Cathedral is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe. It is the longest in overall length. The building shows how architectural styles changed over time. You can see the strong Norman work in the transepts. You can also see the later Perpendicular Gothic work in the east end. The current building started in 1079 and was finished in 1532. It has a cross shape, with a long nave, transepts, a central tower, choir, presbytery, and lady chapel.

Different types of stone were used to build it. These include Quarr limestone, Bath stone, Caen stone from Normandy, and Purbeck Marble. The cathedral is 558 feet (170 m) long. The highest vault is 78 feet (24 m) high. The central tower is 150 feet (46 m) high.

The north and south transepts are the oldest parts of the cathedral that haven't been changed much. They were built by Bishop Walkelin from 1079 to 1098. They are very large, about 209 feet (64 m) long across the crossing. Their walls are 75 feet (23 m) high. The transepts have three sections of almost equal height. These include an arcade at ground level, a triforium, and a clerestory. Both transepts have aisles with small chapels. Most of the windows in the transepts are Norman. However, some have later Gothic windows, including a small rose window. The south transept aisle vault was opened during the 2012-2020 restoration. This allowed a lift to be installed.

The central tower rises only one story above the nave roof. It was rebuilt in the Norman style after it fell in 1107. It might have been planned to be taller. The inside of the bell tower is very decorative. A wooden fan vault was added in 1635. This allowed bells to be installed above.

Underneath the tower is the choir. It is separated from the nave by a large wooden screen from the 1870s. Behind the screen are the choir stalls. Some of these date back to 1308 and are made of carved oak.

The nave was first built between 1100 and 1129. It was changed into the Perpendicular Gothic style from 1346 to 1420. Much of the original Norman work was kept by covering it with new stone. The nave is one of the widest Gothic naves in the country. It is the longest of its kind in Europe. The nave has a spectacular stone vault with hundreds of decorative bosses. The nave aisles are also vaulted in stone. They are quite narrow compared to the central nave. This makes the central nave seem very wide and tall. The nave, including the aisles, is 82 feet (25 metres) wide.

The east end of the cathedral was built in two main stages. The older part is the retrochoir. It is located between the main altar and the lady chapel. It was built between 1202 and 1220 in the Early English Gothic style. This part also has a stone vault. It features many beautiful chantry chapels for different bishops. It is said to have been a model for Salisbury Cathedral. When this part was finished, the original Norman apse was removed. Two large arches in the retrochoir's western wall allow you to see the back of the reredos (a screen behind the altar). The retrochoir is unusual because its central parts are only slightly higher than the aisles around them. The aisles have large lancet windows.

The newer part of the east end is the presbytery. It is east of the crossing. It was built in the Perpendicular Gothic style from 1458 to 1520. It has four sections with north and south aisles. Like the remodelled nave, it has two levels. However, the windows in the presbytery are larger than those in the nave. Unlike the nave, the presbytery has a wooden vault. This vault is painted to look like stone. It has some of the most colorful roof bosses in the cathedral.

The Lady Chapel was also greatly extended during this time. This happened under Bishop Courtenay (1486–1492). New sections were added to the east, with a large seven-light window. The vaulting of the western part of the Lady Chapel was also redone. It now has very detailed lierne star vaults. The southeast chapel of the retrochoir was also remodelled. This was mostly done by Bishop Thomas Langton. He gave it a special fan vault and painted it blue. This colored vault is unique and still survives today.

Underneath the cathedral is the crypt. This is a large Norman part that still exists. It extends under much of the eastern end of the building. The crypt has many sections and aisles. It has a stone vault throughout and dates from the late 11th century. There is a famous statue in the crypt by Antony Gormley. It is a life-sized man and has been there since the 1980s. The crypt often floods in winter because of the high water level.

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  Plan of the Cathedral

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  Norman central tower and north transept

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  Bishop Edington's west facade

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  Choir stalls and screen

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  Choir stalls canopy, organ, tower arch and fan vault

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  Detail on Lady Chapel

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  Arches cut into the retrochoir

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  Reredos and Great Screen - 1450 to 1476

Stained Glass Windows

Much of Winchester's stained glass was lost during the time of Oliver Cromwell. The huge Great West Window was smashed by his soldiers. Many other windows on the lower levels were also destroyed. The glass from the Great West Window was put back together with clear glass like a mosaic after the monarchy was restored.

So, most of the surviving stained glass is in the upper parts of the cathedral. This includes the Great East Window. It was restored as part of the 2012-2020 project. This window dates from the 1620s. It contains work by Flemish artists. Their work can also be seen in King's College Chapel in Cambridge. Much of the glass in the presbytery clerestory is from 1404 to 1426. It was made by Thomas of Oxford.

There is also a rose window in the north transept. The oldest stained-glass window in the cathedral is in the north transept. It dates from 1330.

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  The Great West Window, now a mosaic

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  Stained glass in one of the clerestory windows of the nave

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  Lady chapel window

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  An engraving of the north transept rose window

Vaulted Ceilings

Many parts of the cathedral have vaulted ceilings. Some are made of stone, and others are wood. The oldest vaulted part is the 11th-century crypt. It has stone vaults throughout. The nave and its aisles have vaults made of Beer stone. The aisles of the presbytery, the lady chapel, and the retrochoir also have stone vaults.

The vaulting under the central tower and in the presbytery is made of wood. It is painted to look like stone. Many of the chantry chapels have beautiful fan vaults. The highest vault in the cathedral is 78 feet (24 metres) above the ground. The transepts do not have vaults, except in their aisles. Instead, they have wooden ceilings from the 19th century.

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  Norman vault in the crypt

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  Early English vault in the aisles of the presbytery

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  Blue pseudo fan vault of the SE chapel of the retrochoir

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  Late perpendicular Gothic vault of the presbytery

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  Vaulting in the nave, early Perpendicular

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  Fan vault in one of the chantry chapels of the retrochoir

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  Wooden fan vault underneath the tower, 1635.

Monuments and Special Items

The cathedral has many important monuments and treasures. These include the 12th-century Tournai font, the Morley Library, and the "Kings and Scribes" exhibition. It also holds the famous Winchester Bible.

The Tournai font is a rare item from around 1150. It is one of only ten such fonts in England. The font weighs 1.5 tonnes and is made from limestone from Belgium. It has unique carvings showing the healings of Saint Nicholas. Henry of Blois gave the font to the cathedral.

The Morley Library is in the south transept. It holds a collection of rare books. All these books were given to the cathedral by George Morley, a bishop from 1662 to 1684. The books are still on their original 17th-century carved shelves.

The "Kings and Scribes" exhibition is a result of the £20.5 million restoration project. It shows hundreds of old artifacts. These include skulls, weapons, and building stones. They are displayed with modern technology. The exhibition also features the famous Winchester Bible. It is thought to be the largest and best-preserved 12th-century Bible in England. The text was handwritten on 468 sheets of calf-skin parchment. Each sheet measured 23 by 15.75 inches (584 by 400 mm). These sheets were folded to make 936 pages. The Bible's illustrations sometimes used lapis lazuli, a rare and expensive blue stone from Afghanistan. Other illustrations have gold leaf or paint. The Bible is on display for visitors. It is kept in a special climate-controlled room. Visitors cannot touch the physical book. However, they can read a digital version on large screens.

The cathedral also has many old mortuary chests. These contain the bones of famous people like Alfred the Great, King Canute and his wife Queen Emma, William Rufus, and King Egbert. Their remains were first buried in the Old Minster. This was the main burial place for the Wessex royal family. Their bones were moved to Winchester's Norman cathedral after the Old Minster was torn down in 1093. The chests were disturbed during the English Civil War. So, the bones are now mixed up. Several people's bones might be in one chest, or one person's bones might be spread across several chests.

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  The Tournai marble font.

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  Morley Library

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  Mortuary chest of an unidentified King Edmund.

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  Tomb of William Rufus in Winchester Cathedral (Robert Chambers, p. 161, 1832)

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  Monument to Jane Austen

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  One of the pages of the Winchester Bible

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  Bust of William Walker, who saved the cathedral by diving underneath it

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  Site of the shrine of Swithun, destroyed in the Dissolution.

Chantry Chapels

The cathedral has many chantry chapels. These small chapels are often dedicated to different Bishops of Winchester. They are found mostly in the retrochoir and also in the nave. They are very detailed in their design. Famous chantry chapels include those of William Wykeham, William Wayneflete, Richard Fox, and Henry Beaufort.

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  Bishop Fox's chantry chapel

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  Bishop Gardiner's chantry chapel

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  Henry Beaufort's chantry chapel

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  Chantry chapel of Bishop Wayneflete

Music at the Cathedral

The Organ

The first organ at Winchester Cathedral was recorded in the tenth century. It had 400 pipes and could be heard all over the city. This first organ needed two people to play it and 70 people to pump air into it!

The current organ's main parts date back to 1851. A very large organ was built by Henry Willis and Sons for the Great Exhibition in London. The cathedral's organist, Samuel Wesley, was very impressed by it. He suggested that the cathedral buy it. The organ was bought for £2,500 and installed in Winchester in 1854. It was made a bit smaller for the space. It had four keyboards and 49 stops (sets of pipes).

The organ was changed in 1897 and 1905. It was completely rebuilt in 1937 and again from 1986–88. Famous organists at Winchester include the composer Richard Browne. Also, Christopher Gibbons helped bring church music back after a difficult period. Samuel Sebastian Wesley, a composer of sacred music, and Martin Neary also served here. Martin Neary arranged the music for the funeral of Princess Diana.

Today, the organ has more than 5,500 pipes and 79 stops. The main organ case is under the tower arch next to the north transept.

Cathedral Choirs

Winchester Cathedral has several choirs. Its main choir is known around the world. It has 22 boy choristers, aged 8 to 13. It also has 12 adult singers, called Lay Clerks. This choir sings six services each week during school terms. All the boys go to The Pilgrim School, which is near the cathedral.

The Cathedral Girls' Choir started in 1999. It has 20 girls aged 12 to 17. They come from schools across Hampshire. The girls' choir sings one Sunday service each week with the Lay Clerks. They join the boys for big festivals like Christmas and Easter.

The Cathedral Chamber Choir has 30 professional adult singers. They sing during school holidays when the boy and girl choirs are on break. They also perform at concerts.

There is also a volunteer choir called the Cathedral Nave Choir. It has 40 adults from the church community. The Nave Choir sings one service per month. There are two more youth choirs: the Junior Choir and the Youth Choir. The Junior Choir is for boys and girls aged 7 to 13. You don't need to audition for this choir. The Youth Choir is for boys and girls over 14. You do need to audition for this one.

Cathedral Bells

Bells have been ringing from Winchester Cathedral since Saxon times. It is said that King Cnut gave two bells to the Old Minster in 1035. However, these bells no longer exist. By the mid-17th century, the tower was changed to hold bells. Seven bells were installed in a large oak frame.

This frame was made stronger and extended several times. By 1883, there were eight bells. The largest bell weighed about 32 long cwt (1,626 kg). Four of these bells were cast in 1734.

In 1891, the largest bell cracked. It was recast in 1892 to be a bit lighter. At the same time, two new treble bells were added, making a total of ten bells. The existing bells were also rehung.

In 1921, two more treble bells were added. This made it the first set of twelve bells in Hampshire. These new bells were dedicated to those who died in the First World War. However, this set of twelve bells didn't last long. In 1936, they were taken down and completely recast.

The bells were meant for the coronation of Edward VIII. The inscription on the largest bell mentions this. But by the time the bells were finished and rehung, Edward had given up his throne. His brother George VI became king. So, the name "Edwardi Octavi" was crossed out, and "Georgi Sexti" was written in by hand. The new bells were heavier. The heaviest eight bells were rehung in the original 1734 oak frame. The four lighter treble bells were hung in a new metal frame. All twelve bells received new parts. The new bells were a great success. They were described as "a truly magnificent peal."

In 1967, an extra bell from another church was moved to the cathedral. It was hung as a semitone bell. This allowed for a lighter set of eight bells to be rung. This bell weighs 6.5 long cwt (340 kg) and was cast in 1621. This makes it the oldest bell in the cathedral tower. This bell celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2021.

By 1991, the tower itself needed attention. A survey found that the large wooden bell frame was moving during ringing. This was damaging the tower and the floor. Ringing was stopped. The restoration involved lowering all 13 bells. The frame was then lifted and supported by steel beams in the tower walls. The floor was repaired. The strengthened bell frame was lowered back, and the bells were rehung.

It was also decided to add more bells. Two new treble bells were cast in 1992. A third extra bell was added to create a "sharp fourth." This would allow for a lighter set of ten bells. A new wooden frame was made for the lightest seven bells.

No major work has been done on the bells since 1992. They are still the only diatonic set of fourteen change ringing bells in the world. The eight largest bells are still in the original 1734 oak frame. This is one of the largest surviving frames of its kind.

In 2021, new wooden clappers were made for the two largest bells. This has made the sound of these bells even better.

Cultural Connections

Winchester Cathedral attracts many tourists because of its link to Jane Austen. She died in Winchester on July 18, 1817. Her funeral was held in the cathedral, and she was buried in the north aisle. Her tombstone does not mention her novels. But a later brass plaque, paid for by money from her first biography, describes her as "known to many by her writings." There is also a special window in her honor.

The novelist Anthony Trollope lived in Winchester as a child. He used parts of the cathedral and city in his books, Chronicles of Barsetshire. In 2005, the building was used as a film set for The Da Vinci Code. The north transept was used to look like the Vatican. After the filming, the cathedral held discussions to explain facts about the book.

Winchester Cathedral might be the only cathedral with popular songs written about it. "Winchester Cathedral" was a hit song for The New Vaudeville Band in 1966. The cathedral was also the subject of the Crosby, Stills & Nash song "Cathedral" from their 1977 album CSN. The band Clinic released an album called Winchester Cathedral in 2004.

In 1992, the British rose grower David Austin named a white rose after "Winchester Cathedral."

During the First World War, Bill Wilson, who co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous, visited the cathedral. He had an important spiritual experience there.

The cathedral is the start of the 34-mile-long St Swithun's Way. This long-distance footpath opened in 2002. It was to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II.

The cathedral and its area have been used many times for filming The Crown. This is a popular Netflix show about the British monarchy. The inside of the cathedral has been used to look like both Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral. For example, it was used for the funeral of Lord Louis Mountbatten and for Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer's wedding rehearsals.

Every November and December since 2006, the cathedral grounds host the Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market.

Public Access

Like many other cathedrals in the UK, Winchester Cathedral has charged an admission fee since March 2006. Visitors can ask for an annual pass for the same price as a single ticket.

Cathedral Leadership

As of January 2, 2021, the leadership includes:

• Dean — Catherine Ogle (since February 11, 2017)
• Vice-Dean, Canon Chancellor and Pastor — Roland Riem
• Canon Missioner - Dr Tess Kuin Lawton (since 2021)
• Canon Precentor and Sacrist — Andy Trenier (since September 15, 2019)

Burials and Memorials

Burials Inside the Cathedral

Many important people are buried at Winchester Cathedral. These include:

• Saint Birinus — his remains were later moved here.
• Walkelin, the first Norman Bishop of Winchester (1070–1098).
• Henry of Blois (or Henry of Winchester), Bishop of Winchester (1129–1171).
• Richard of Ilchester, Bishop of Winchester (1173–1188) and a medieval English statesman.
• Godfrey de Luci, Bishop of Winchester (1189–1204).
• Peter des Roches, Bishop of Winchester (1205–1238).
• Henry Beaufort (1375–1447), a Cardinal and Bishop of Winchester. He was a son of John of Gaunt.
• Izaak Walton, author of The Compleat Angler (1593–1683).
• John Ecton, a legal writer, who died in 1730.
• Jane Austen (1817).

Bones in Mortuary Chests

The bones of several kings and queens are kept in special mortuary chests. These people were originally buried in the Old Minster. Their remains were moved to the Norman cathedral after the Old Minster was torn down in 1093. During the English Civil War, these chests were disturbed. So, the bones inside are now mixed up.

People whose bones are believed to be in these chests include:

• Cynegils, King of Wessex (611–643)
• Cenwalh, King of Wessex (643–672)
• Egbert of Wessex, King of Wessex (802–839)
• Ethelwulf, King of Wessex (839–856)
• Eadred, King of England (946–955)
• Eadwig, King of England (955–959)
• Cnut or Canute, King of England (1016–1035)
• Emma of Normandy, wife of King Cnut and Æthelred the Unready
• William II 'Rufus', King of England (1087–1100)

Also:

• Harthacnut, King of England (1040–1042)
• Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury (died 1072)

One chest also mentions a king named 'Edmund'. This might be Edmund I or Edmund Ironside. However, most records say they were buried at Glastonbury Abbey.

Originally Buried at Winchester

Some people were first buried at Winchester but later moved:

• Edward the Elder, King of England (899–924) — later moved to Hyde Abbey.
• Alfred the Great, King of Wessex (875–899) — moved from Old Minster and later to Hyde Abbey.

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