Chester Cathedral founded by the nephew of William the Conqueror in 1092

Chester Cathedral was built by Hugh Lupus, the Earl of Chester and also nephew to William the Conqueror.  The Cathedral which was then a Monastery was founded in 1092 and built in the Romanesque style.  Apparently they started at the east and continued towards the west the last part built was the chapter House in 1250 in the then Gothic style.  Due to this remodelling of the Cathedral continued throughout the centuries to what it is today.  During King Henry VIII time the Monastery like most in England was dissolved in 1539, however instead of it been demolished as many were the King gave back the church to the Diocese of Chester as a Cathedral this is the main reason that the Cathedral is still standing today.  Of course there has been restorations over the centuries, however the architecture is stunning and make me wonder how we think our own buildings of today are superior.  I for one cannot imagine our buildings of today still standing in another 2000 years.

 

 

 

This is a side view of the Cathedral showing Chester Townhall  tower in the background.

 

 

This is the entrance that is used today, the décor is extraordinary

 

The above two photos are a model of what the Cathedral looks like from both wings, I must say I didn't realise how huge the place actually was, amazing to say the least.

 

This was one of the passage ways to the entry of the Cathedral, a bit blurry though it makes it look a bit more like a painting than a photo

 

Down the main Aisle

 

The Baptismal was closed off

 

Turn to the left from the central aisle were these magnificent pictures on the wall, they followed the aisle all the way down.

 

 

Look at the stunning work that the masons did.

 

I think if memory serves me correctly these are two Bishops of the Cathedral, there were pictures of four however the other two were too blurred to put on the blog.

 

It was the first time I had seen a plaque for someone born in America.  There was another that told his story about leaving everything behind and living the rest of his very worthy life in England

 

A Masons mark

 

This photos was for my daughters friend

 

That is all the photos I have of Chester Cathedral, though I have access to a few more that my mother took.  I will post these when I am able they show the Cheshire Regiment wing of the Cathedral along with other photos that I was unable to keep due to been blurred.

Celtic Cathedral of Chester Founded 689 AD

The below information is to be found on the Church boards telling the history of the Church of St John the Baptist in Chester. 

 

It is a Grade One Listed & Scheduled Ancient Monument that was founded in 689 AD by Aethelred King of Mercia.  It was enlarged by the Aethelfleda, the daughter of King Alfred the Great and her husband in AD 907.  It was to St John's that King Edgar cane in 973 to receive the homage of the sub-kings of England, Scotland and Wales.  Partially rebuilt in AD 1075 by Bishop Peter of Mercia, it was raised at Cathedral status which it retained until it became a Collegiate Church in the 13th Century.  Following the Reformation in the 16th Century it became a Parish Church.

 

What it used to look like

 

The Great Saxon Minster of West Mercia and Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross and St John until 1541.

 

What it is like today.

 

 

The next set of photos show the old Celtic tower that collapsed in 1581, as well as images of what looks like a newer church, part of the old Celtic church is still incorporated into the one you can see below.  It began much smaller and ended up been a Parish Chruch.

 

The Main Entrance that is used today

 

More ruins of the much larger Cathedral that once stood here.

 

Some of the Cathedral is Norman most is still original especially inside which are the photos that are to follow below.  There were some wonderful finds inside the church including a skeleton covered in a shroud and also mason marks of those who built it.

 

 

Down the centre aisle of the cathedral, look at those pillars !

 

Some Celtic headstone remains, mainly Celtic crosses

 

How did they build this........it is incredible to think how they got the stone up, how the stone was shaped and put together over a 1000 years ago.

 

I thought this was unusual, none of the other pillars had painting on them. 

The organ, well one of them, I am not sure if all the others I saw were part of the same or not.

 

The last supper

 

A Skeletal Memorial for a lady called Diane Warburton.

 

This is the bottom of the memorial

 

This is the top part.........I thought it very weird memorial for such a good woman.

 

As you can read, the memorial was done by a student of Sir Christopher Wren who build St Pauls Cathedral in London.

 

 

This is a stunning stain glass window showing the history of St John's from when it was founded to about Queen Victoria's era.

The next part shows you the Mason Marks that can be found in St John's. in fact I actually went hunting for a few afterward, and of course found some, once again they are ancient yet still they are visible in the sandstone.

 

 

These next three photos show different areas of St John's and tells you the history of what happened over the centuries.

 

 

 

 

The next set of photos are from inside the cathedral telling you about the different parts of the building.

 

 

 

 

 

Of course I have to finish off with some wild life, namely the river and a squirrel ..........  :-)

 

 

The River Dee is situated behind St John's Parish Church and the Cathedral ruins

 

Taken from further along.

 

Ok so they are a pest, however I think he was cute and have added these photos for my children.