Category Cathedrals
ZigZag – the finer details of cathedral architecture. #atozchallenge
The last day of the A to Z blogging challenge is here! Congratulations to everyone who took part. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have. I’ve had so much to read, and still to read, as I continue to explore new blogs. As for my Z? Take a look at this picture. […]
York Minster – a church of many lives #atozchallenge
The end of the challenge is drawing near and I’m transporting myself to York for what most be one of the most famous cathedrals, if only because it keeps bouncing back from near destruction. The first church on the site dates back to 627AD and was built in wood, as would have been most churches […]
X – the Crossing point. #atozchallenge
Following my theme of abbeys and cathedrals, my X is less about the letter and more about the shape. Most churches in the UK have the layout of the cross, known as the cruciform – cross-shaped. The eastern end points to the centre of the Christian world, as it was in ancient times – Jerusalem. […]
Wells Cathedral – the poet of cathedrals #atozchallenge
Known as the ‘most poetic of English cathedrals’ Wells is a jewel and memorable. Taking its name from the well that still springs up in the bishop’s palace garden, the site of the cathedral dates back centuries to when in 705AD the king of Wessex founded a minister church. This Saxon church was superseded in […]
Undercrofts – Chester Cathedral. #atozchallenge
When not looking up, it’s worth a trip down into the underbelly of a cathedral or abbey. While the soaring heights and stained glass are awe inspiring, save a little respect for the undercroft. Used in abbeys as a cellar for storage as well as a sleeping quarters for the lay brothers, the undercroft is […]
Spires – reaching for the heavens. #atozchallenge
A spire is an Old English term for sprout or shoot of grass, something that grows upwards, reaching for the skies. In the case of a church, it is the heavens the spire is intended to reach and for those early Christians, the height of the spire, way above their heads, must have been awe […]
Queen’s coronation – Westminster Abbey #atozchallenge
Since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, British monarchs have been crowned in Westminster Abbey, barring two: Edward V (murdered) and Edward VIII (abdicated). The throne – King Edward’s Chair – is housed in the abbey’s St George’s Chapel ready for the next coronation. But why here at Westminster? Westminster Abbey is a […]
Nave – the hub of a cathedral. #atozchallenge
Cathedrals and Abbeys. Today is all about the nave. The cruciform layout of a church is based on the points of the compass. The chancel, where the high altar is situated, points to the East and Jerusalem, which in Medieval times was the centre of the Earth. The north and south transepts were where chapels […]
Manchester Cathedral – the modest rise of the Great Churches
Continuing my theme of Abbeys and Cathedrals… As the population of England grew throughout the industrial age, more and more people flocked into urban areas. The Church of England in response needed more dioceses and bishops and in turn more cathedrals to cater for the rising population. Also to counter the popularity of non-conformist chapels […]
Liverpool’s cathedrals – side by side. #atozchallenge
Not many cities can boast two cathedrals in the UK and when they do, they don’t get more impressive than Liverpool. Liverpool, a relatively young city compared to those with Medieval origins, grew rich on trade and shipping but had no cathedral until the 20th century. Liverpool has a diverse population that includes a large […]
The Quiet Writer 