Gloucester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity and formerly St Peter's Abbey, in
Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the
River Severn
The River Severn (, ), at long, is the longest river in Great Britain. It is also the river with the most voluminous flow of water by far in all of England and Wales, with an average flow rate of at Apperley, Gloucestershire. It rises in t ...
. It originated with the establishment of a
minster, Gloucester Abbey, dedicated to
Saint Peter
Saint Peter (born Shimon Bar Yonah; 1 BC – AD 64/68), also known as Peter the Apostle, Simon Peter, Simeon, Simon, or Cephas, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and one of the first leaders of the Jewish Christian#Jerusalem ekklēsia, e ...
and founded by
Osric, King of the
Hwicce
Hwicce () was a kingdom in Anglo-Saxons, Anglo-Saxon England. According to the ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'', the kingdom was established in 577, after the Battle of Deorham. After 628, the kingdom became a client or sub-kingdom of Mercia as a result ...
, in around 679.
The subsequent history of the church is complex; Osric's foundation came under the control of the
Benedictine Order
The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly Christian mysticism, contemplative Christian monasticism, monastic Religious order (Catholic), order of the Catholic Church for men and f ...
at the beginning of the 11th century and in around 1058,
Ealdred,
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary (officer), head of the Church of England Anglican Diocese of Worcester, Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. The title can be traced back to the foundation of the diocese in the ...
, established a new abbey "a little further from the place where it had stood". The abbey appears not to have been an initial success, by 1072, the number of attendant monks had reduced to two. The present building was begun by Abbott
Serlo in about 1089, following a major fire the previous year. Serlo's efforts transformed the abbey's fortunes; rising revenues and royal patronage enabled the construction of a major church.
William the Conqueror
William the Conqueror (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), sometimes called William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England (as William I), reigning from 1066 until his death. A descendant of Rollo, he was D ...
held his Christmas Court at the
chapter house
A chapter house or chapterhouse is a building or room that is part of a cathedral, monastery or collegiate church in which meetings are held. When attached to a cathedral, the cathedral chapter meets there. In monasteries, the whole communi ...
in 1085, at which he ordered the compilation of
Domesday Book
Domesday Book ( ; the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book") is a manuscript record of the Great Survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 at the behest of William the Conqueror. The manuscript was originally known by ...
. In October 1216,
Henry III was
crowned at the abbey.
After another disastrous fire in 1222, an ambitious rebuilding programme was begun. In the 14th century, the Great and Little
Cloister
A cloister (from Latin , "enclosure") is a covered walk, open gallery, or open Arcade (architecture), arcade running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle (architecture), quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cat ...
s were constructed, displaying the earliest, and perhaps the finest, examples of
fan vaulting anywhere. The cathedral contains the
shrine
A shrine ( "case or chest for books or papers"; Old French: ''escrin'' "box or case") is a sacred space">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ...: ''escri ...
of
Edward II
Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also known as Edward of Caernarfon or Caernarvon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir to the throne follo ...
, who was murdered at nearby
Berkeley Castle. Following the
dissolution of the monasteries by
Henry VIII
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...
in 1536, the abbey was refounded as a cathedral. The cathedral underwent much restoration in the 18th century, and again in the 19th. In 1989, it celebrated its 900th anniversary. In 2015, the installation of
Rachel Treweek
Rachel Treweek (née Montgomery; born 4 February 1963) is an English Anglican bishop who has served as Bishop of Gloucester since 2015 and is the joint third female bishop in the Church of England, and first female diocesean bishop. A former spe ...
saw the
Church of England
The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...
appoint its first woman as a
diocesan bishop. The cathedral has frequently been used as a filming location, including as a stand-in for
Hogwarts
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry () is a fictional boarding school of magic for young wizards. It is the primary setting for the first six novels in the '' Harry Potter'' series by J. K. Rowling, and also serves as a major setti ...
in the
Harry Potter movies.
The cathedral is a
Grade I listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Hi ...
. There are a large number of other listed buildings within the cathedral complex, many also listed at Grade I, the highest grade. These include the
Treasury
A treasury is either
*A government department related to finance and taxation, a finance ministry; in a business context, corporate treasury.
*A place or location where treasure, such as currency or precious items are kept. These can be ...
, the
Chapter House
A chapter house or chapterhouse is a building or room that is part of a cathedral, monastery or collegiate church in which meetings are held. When attached to a cathedral, the cathedral chapter meets there. In monasteries, the whole communi ...
, the
Cloisters
A cloister (from Latin , "enclosure") is a covered walk, open gallery, or open arcade running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cathedral or church, commonly against a warm southe ...
, the precinct wall and a number of the medieval gates into the cathedral enclosure. Others are listed at Grade II* and Grade II.
History
Early history
The first recorded religious building on the site was a minster founded by
Osric of Hwicce in around 679. A relative, Kyneburg, was consecrated as the first abbess by
Bosel,
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary (officer), head of the Church of England Anglican Diocese of Worcester, Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. The title can be traced back to the foundation of the diocese in the ...
. Monastic life flourished, and the possessions of the house increased, but after 767 it seems probable that the nuns dispersed during the confusion of civil strife in England.
Beornwulf of Mercia
Beornwulf (died 826) was the King of Mercia, a kingdom of Anglo-Saxon England, from 823 until his death in 826. His short reign saw the collapse of Mercia's supremacy over the other kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. His name derives from t ...
is said to have rebuilt the church, and to have endowed a body of secular priests with the former possessions of the nuns. In 1022
Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester, had the
Benedictine rule
The ''Rule of Saint Benedict'' () is a book of precepts written in Latin by St. Benedict of Nursia (c. AD 480–550) for monks living communally under the authority of an abbot.
The spirit of Saint Benedict's Rule is summed up in the motto of th ...
introduced and the abbey dedicated to St Peter.
The early building history is confused; at some point in the early 11th century the monastic buildings were destroyed by fire, and it is recorded that
Ealdred,
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary (officer), head of the Church of England Anglican Diocese of Worcester, Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. The title can be traced back to the foundation of the diocese in the ...
rebuilt the church in around 1058 on a site "a little further from the place where it stood, and nearer to the side of the city". The foundations of the present church were laid by Abbot
Serlo (1072–1104). Appointed by
William the Conqueror
William the Conqueror (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), sometimes called William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England (as William I), reigning from 1066 until his death. A descendant of Rollo, he was D ...
in 1072, Serlo found a new building with a complement of only two monks and eight novices.
The situation was worsened by another major fire in 1088. But the town retained its importance as a favoured royal seat; William celebrated Christmas there in 1085 when, in discussion with his
Witan in the
chapter house
A chapter house or chapterhouse is a building or room that is part of a cathedral, monastery or collegiate church in which meetings are held. When attached to a cathedral, the cathedral chapter meets there. In monasteries, the whole communi ...
, he initiated the assembly of
Domesday Book
Domesday Book ( ; the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book") is a manuscript record of the Great Survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 at the behest of William the Conqueror. The manuscript was originally known by ...
. His support, together with that of others such as
Walter de Lacy and his wife, enabled Serlo to embark on a major rebuilding, and between the laying of the foundation stone in 1089 and the abbey's re-consecration in 1100, work on the
nave
The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...
, the
apse
In architecture, an apse (: apses; from Latin , 'arch, vault'; from Ancient Greek , , 'arch'; sometimes written apsis; : apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical Vault (architecture), vault or semi-dome, also known as an ' ...
, the
crypt
A crypt (from Greek κρύπτη (kryptē) ''wikt:crypta#Latin, crypta'' "Burial vault (tomb), vault") is a stone chamber beneath the floor of a church or other building. It typically contains coffins, Sarcophagus, sarcophagi, or Relic, religiou ...
and the chapter house was undertaken at speed and on an "exceptional scale".
St Peter's Abbey had long enjoyed important royal connections, from its foundation, then under the patronage of the Conqueror, and in October 1216 it was chosen as the venue for the
coronation
A coronation ceremony marks the formal investiture of a monarch with regal power using a crown. In addition to the crowning, this ceremony may include the presentation of other items of regalia, and other rituals such as the taking of special v ...
of
Henry III, after the death of his father,
King John. The nine-year-old boy was crowned in the presence of his mother
Isabella, whose bracelet was reputedly used in place of a crown.
The abbey's royal connections continued, albeit in a darker vein, in the following century. In 1327,
Edward II
Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also known as Edward of Caernarfon or Caernarvon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir to the throne follo ...
was buried in an elaborate
shrine
A shrine ( "case or chest for books or papers"; Old French: ''escrin'' "box or case") is a sacred space">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ...: ''escri ...
at Gloucester, following his death at
Berkeley Castle nearby. Widely believed to have been murdered, Edward was entombed at Gloucester in a lavish ceremony attended by his widow,
Isabella and their young son,
Edward
Edward is an English male name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortunate; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”.
History
The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-S ...
. The abbey reputedly benefitted from substantial gifts donated by those making pilgrimage to Edward's shrine, although this is disputed.
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner (30 January 1902 – 18 August 1983) was a German-British art historian and architectural historian best known for his monumental 46-volume series of county-by-county guides, ''The Buildings of England'' (195 ...
suggests that the more likely source of revenue was the new king, making donations ''in piam memoriam''.
Others support the traditional claim, and Jon Cannon, in his work, ''Cathedral: The great English cathedrals and the world that made them'', is certain that the presence of the body of the dead king had a long-term, beneficial, impact on the abbey's fortunes, citing
Henry VIII
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...
's later decision to make it a cathedral, on account of the presence of "many famous monuments of our renowned ancestors, kings of England."
However occasioned, the cathedral's improved financial position enabled another great period of building. This work included the cloisters, with their famed fan vaulting. St Peter's was unusual as a religious foundation in commissioning its own history, the ''Historia Monasterii Sancti Petri Gloucestriae''. Its author, Walter Frocester (died 1412), became its first mitred abbot in 1381.
Dependencies
* In 1134, William Fitznorman gave the church of
St David, Kilpeck, and the Chapel of St Mary at Kilpeck Castle to Gloucester Abbey, and a priory cell was established about 400 yards south east of the church, to house some monks displaced from
Llanthony Priory
Llanthony Priory () is a partly ruined former Augustinians, Augustinian priory in the secluded Vale of Ewyas, a steep-sided once-glaciated valley within the Black Mountains, Wales, Black Mountains area of the Brecon Beacons National Park in Mo ...
by attacks of the Welsh.
Kilpeck Priory closed in 1422.
* The
Priory of Saints Peter, Paul and Guthlac in
Hereford
Hereford ( ) is a cathedral city and the county town of the ceremonial county of Herefordshire, England. It is on the banks of the River Wye and lies east of the border with Wales, north-west of Gloucester and south-west of Worcester. With ...
was a dependency of Gloucester Abbey.
*
Ewenny Priory
Ewenny Priory (), in Ewenny in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, was a monastery of the Benedictine order, founded in the 12th century. The priory was unusual in having extensive military-style defences and in its state of preservation; the architec ...
was founded by
Maurice de Londres in 1141. Maurice granted the
Norman church of
St. Michael to the
abbey
An abbey is a type of monastery used by members of a religious order under the governance of an abbot or abbess. Abbeys provide a complex of buildings and land for religious activities, work, and housing of Christians, Christian monks and nun ...
of St. Peter at Gloucester, together with the church of
St Brides Major
St. Brides Major () is a village within the community also called St Brides Major in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales.
The village is located approximately 1.5 mi from the Glamorgan Heritage Coast. It is connected by bus to the nearby tow ...
and the chapel at
Ogmore "in order that a convent of monks might be formed".
* In 1146 the college of Augustinian canons at
Stanley St. Leonard was given to the monastery by Roger de Berkeley III, with the consent of the prior and canons, and became St. Leonard Priory. His grandfather, Roger de Berkeley I, had retired as a monk to St Peter's Abbey around 1091.
Dissolution and recreation
At its inception, the abbey stood in the
see of Worcester; but its position was transformed at the
Dissolution of the monasteries. Following abolition, Henry VIII created the new
Diocese of Gloucester
The Diocese of Gloucester is a Church of England diocese based in Gloucester, covering the non-metropolitan county of Gloucestershire. The cathedral is Gloucester Cathedral and the bishop is the Bishop of Gloucester. It is part of the Province ...
and on 3 September 1541, the abbey church became its cathedral, with
John Wakeman, last abbot of
Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the north of Gloucestershire, England. The town grew following the construction of Tewkesbury Abbey in the twelfth century and played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses. It stands at ...
, as its first bishop. The diocese covered the greater part of
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire ( , ; abbreviated Glos.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the north-east, Oxfordshire ...
, with small parts of
Herefordshire
Herefordshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England, bordered by Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh ...
and
Wiltshire
Wiltshire (; abbreviated to Wilts) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It borders Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire to the north-east, Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the south-east, Dorset to the south, and Somerset to ...
. Although staunchly
Royalist
A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of gove ...
in its sympathies, the city, and the cathedral, escaped largely unscathed from the tumult of the
English Civil War
The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Cavaliers, Royalists and Roundhead, Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651. Part of the wider 1639 to 1653 Wars of th ...
and plans for complete demolition formulated during the
Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...
were not taken forward.
The 18th and 19th centuries saw repeated periods of reconstruction, renovation and rebuilding. Counter to the approach sometimes adopted elsewhere in the
Victorian era
In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the reign of Queen Victoria, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. Slightly different definitions are sometimes used. The era followed the ...
, the 19th century restorations at Gloucester, firstly by the local architects,
Frederick S. Waller and
Thomas Fulljames, and latterly by
George Gilbert Scott
Sir George Gilbert Scott (13 July 1811 – 27 March 1878), largely known as Sir Gilbert Scott, was a prolific English Gothic Revival architect, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches and cathedrals, although he ...
, were "on the whole, very tactful"
ee box During the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
a recess in the crypt was used to house the
Coronation Chair
The Coronation Chair, also known as St Edward's Chair or King Edward's Chair, is an ancient wooden chair that is used by British monarchs when they are invested with regalia and crowned at their coronation. The chair was commissioned in 1296 b ...
, which had been moved in August 1939 from
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British m ...
for safe keeping. The 13th century bog-oak effigy of
Robert Curthose
Robert Curthose ( – February 1134, ), the eldest son of William the Conqueror, was Duke of Normandy as Robert II from 1087 to 1106.
Robert was also an unsuccessful pretender to the throne of the Kingdom of England. The epithet "Curthose" ...
was placed on the chair and the whole covered by sandbags. The Great East Window was also dismantled and placed in storage. The remainder of the 10,000 sandbags supplied by the Office of Works were used to protect the other monuments in the cathedral, including the tomb of Edward II.
Modern period
The cathedral celebrated its 900th anniversary in 1989. In 2015
Rachel Treweek
Rachel Treweek (née Montgomery; born 4 February 1963) is an English Anglican bishop who has served as Bishop of Gloucester since 2015 and is the joint third female bishop in the Church of England, and first female diocesean bishop. A former spe ...
was installed as bishop, the first woman to be appointed to a
diocesan bishopric in the history of the
Church of England
The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...
.
In September 2016 Gloucester Cathedral joined the Church of England's '
Shrinking the footprint' campaign, intended to reduce the Church of England's carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. The cathedral commissioned a
solar array on the cathedral roof which is expected to reduce the cathedral's energy costs by 25%. The installation was completed by November 2016, making the 927-year-old cathedral the oldest one in the UK with a solar installation.
A redevelopment of an old car park next to the cathedral was finished in 2018, making the car park a green space.
Architecture
Main building
The cathedral consists of a
Norman nave (
Walter de Lacy is buried there), with additions in every style of
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is an architectural style that was prevalent in Europe from the late 12th to the 16th century, during the High Middle Ages, High and Late Middle Ages, surviving into the 17th and 18th centuries in some areas. It evolved f ...
. It is long, and wide, with a fine central tower of the 15th century rising to the height of and topped by four delicate
pinnacle
A pinnacle is an architectural element originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire. It was main ...
s.
The crypt, nave and chapter house date from the late 11th century. The crypt is one of the four
apsidal cathedral crypts in England, the others being at
Worcester
Worcester may refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England
** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament
* Worcester Park, London, Engl ...
,
Winchester
Winchester (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs N ...
and
Canterbury
Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...
. The nave was begun in 1089. The church was largely complete by 1100. In the early 12th century, the western towers were added; the south tower collapsed around 1165.
In 1222, a fire damaged the timber roof and several of the monastic buildings. To repair the damage and update the architectural style, an ambitious building campaign was launched, including the revaulting of the nave Early English style (completed 1243); the construction of the central tower (begun 1237); the rebuilding of the collapsed south tower (completed 1246); and the rebuilding of the refectory.
The south aisle was rebuilt in 1318–29. The most notable monument is the canopied shrine of
Edward II of England
Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also known as Edward of Caernarfon or Caernarvon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir to the throne follo ...
who was murdered at nearby
Berkeley Castle in 1327. Pilgrimages to the tomb brought a huge influx of cash enabling the rebuilding and redecorating of the south transept (1329–37), the north transept (1368–73), and the choir (1350–77). The Norman choir walls are sheathed in Perpendicular tracery. The multiplication of ribs, liernes and bosses in the choir vaulting is particularly rich.
The late Decorated Great East window is partly filled with surviving medieval
stained glass
Stained glass refers to coloured glass as a material or art and architectural works created from it. Although it is traditionally made in flat panels and used as windows, the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensio ...
. When completed in 1350, it was the largest window in existence. One window is said to depict the earliest images of the game of
golf
Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various Golf club, clubs to hit a Golf ball, ball into a series of holes on a golf course, course in as few strokes as possible.
Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standa ...
. This dates from 1350, over 300 years earlier than the earliest image of golf from Scotland. Another image, carved on a
misericord
A misericord (sometimes named mercy seat, like the biblical object) is a small wooden structure formed on the underside of a folding seat in a church which, when the seat is folded up, is intended to act as a shelf to support a person in a p ...
, shows people playing a ball game, which has been suggested as one of the earliest images of
medieval football
Medieval football is a modern term used for a wide variety of the localised informal football games which were invented and played in Europe, England during the Middle Ages. Alternative names include folk football, mob football and Shrovetide fo ...
.
Between the apsidal chapels is a cross
Lady chapel
A Lady chapel or lady chapel is a traditional British English, British term for a chapel dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, particularly those inside a cathedral or other large church (building), church. The chapels are also known as a Mary chape ...
, and north of the nave are the
cloister
A cloister (from Latin , "enclosure") is a covered walk, open gallery, or open Arcade (architecture), arcade running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle (architecture), quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cat ...
s, the carrels or stalls for the monks' study and writing lying to the south. In a side-chapel is a monument in coloured
bog oak of
Robert Curthose
Robert Curthose ( – February 1134, ), the eldest son of William the Conqueror, was Duke of Normandy as Robert II from 1087 to 1106.
Robert was also an unsuccessful pretender to the throne of the Kingdom of England. The epithet "Curthose" ...
, eldest son of
William the Conqueror
William the Conqueror (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), sometimes called William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England (as William I), reigning from 1066 until his death. A descendant of Rollo, he was D ...
and a great benefactor of the abbey, who was interred there. Monuments of
William Warburton (Bishop of Gloucester) and
Edward Jenner
Edward Jenner (17 May 1749 – 26 January 1823) was an English physician and scientist who pioneered the concept of vaccines and created the smallpox vaccine, the world's first vaccine. The terms ''vaccine'' and ''vaccination'' are derived f ...
(physician) are also worthy of note. The coronation of
Henry III is commemorated in a stained-glass window in the south aisle.
Between 1873 and 1890, and in 1897, the cathedral was extensively
restored
''Restored'' is the fourth studio album by American contemporary Christian musician Jeremy Camp. It was released on November 16, 2004, by BEC Recordings.
Track listing
Standard release
Enhanced edition
Deluxe gold edition
Standard Aus ...
by
George Gilbert Scott
Sir George Gilbert Scott (13 July 1811 – 27 March 1878), largely known as Sir Gilbert Scott, was a prolific English Gothic Revival architect, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches and cathedrals, although he ...
. Ewan Christian recalls in his biography restoring the north aisle of the nave. The cathedral has forty-six 14th-century misericords and twelve 19th-century replacements by Gilbert Scott. Both types have a wide range of subject matter: mythology, everyday occurrences, religious symbolism and folklore.
Gloucester Cathedral High Altar, Gloucestershire, UK - Diliff.jpg, The Quire with the Great East Window behind - in 1350, when installed, it was the largest window in the world
Gloucester Cathedral - Stained window 6.jpg, The West Window
Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, Ceiling in the Choir Gloucester 1245952 20230819 0288.jpg, The Quire's vaulted ceiling
Gloucester Cathedral (Holy Trinity) (15170320445).jpg, The vaulted ceiling of the Nave
Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, Nave from the East Gloucester 1245952 20230819 0320.jpg, The Nave from the east
Gloucester Cathedral Choir 2, Gloucestershire, UK - Diliff.jpg, Facing west towards the choir, with the organ above
Cloisters and cathedral precincts
The cloisters at Gloucester are the earliest surviving
fan vaults in England, having been designed between 1351 and 1377 by Thomas de Cantebrugge. David Verey and Alan Brooks, in the 2002 revised volume, ''Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and the Forest of Dean'', in the
Pevsner Buildings of England series, call them "the most memorable in England". The cathedral itself suggests that they form "the first and best example of fan vaulting in the world".
[
The cloisters stand to the north of the cathedral and, along with the cathedral precincts to the north and east, contain a number of listed buildings. The Great Cloister itself is listed at Grade I, as are the Little Cloister and Little Cloister House, the remains of a ]reservoir
A reservoir (; ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam, usually built to water storage, store fresh water, often doubling for hydroelectric power generation.
Reservoirs are created by controlling a watercourse that drains an existing body of wa ...
in the north-west corner of the Great Cloister and a passage from the cloister to the former Infirmary
Infirmary may refer to:
*Historically, a hospital, especially a small hospital
*A first aid room in a school, prison, or other institution
*A dispensary (an office that dispenses medications)
*A clinic
A clinic (or outpatient clinic or ambul ...
, the remains of the infirmary itself, and the north Precinct Wall.
The other major structures within the precincts are the Chapter house
A chapter house or chapterhouse is a building or room that is part of a cathedral, monastery or collegiate church in which meetings are held. When attached to a cathedral, the cathedral chapter meets there. In monasteries, the whole communi ...
and the Treasury
A treasury is either
*A government department related to finance and taxation, a finance ministry; in a business context, corporate treasury.
*A place or location where treasure, such as currency or precious items are kept. These can be ...
and library
A library is a collection of Book, books, and possibly other Document, materials and Media (communication), media, that is accessible for use by its members and members of allied institutions. Libraries provide physical (hard copies) or electron ...
. They date initially from the 11th century, although they have undergone major reconstruction in subsequent centuries. Both are Grade I listed buildings. The treasury adjoins the main cathedral on its northern side, with the library above it, and the chapter house adjoins the treasury.
Other structures in the precincts now form part of King's School, Gloucester
The King's School is a co-educational private day school in Gloucester, in the county of Gloucestershire, in South West England. It traces its heritage to a monastic school founded in the 11th century in the cloisters of Gloucester Cathedral. I ...
including: the remains of the Abbott's lodgings and Dulverton House, both listed at Grade II*, and the gymnasium, Dulverton House Coachhouse, Wardle House, Palace Cottage and a set of railings surrounding a playground, all of which are listed at Grade II.
The Cloisters at Gloucester Cathedral.jpg, The Great Cloister
A cloister (from Latin , "enclosure") is a covered walk, open gallery, or open Arcade (architecture), arcade running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle (architecture), quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cat ...
Cloister, Gloucester Cathedral 2.jpg, Another view
Gloucester Cathedral Cloister, Gloucestershire, UK - Diliff.jpg, Another view
Great Cloister, Gloucester cathedral (15864346494).jpg, Fan vaulting
Gloucester Cathedral 20190210 144152 (47623274951).jpg, Exterior
College Green and Miller's Green
College Green lies to the south and west of the cathedral, forming its cathedral close. It was originally the site of a series of monastic graveyards, but was largely rebuilt in the 18th century when many of the buildings were converted to domestic use.
Miller's Green forms a close to the north of the cathedral and was originally the monastic service court. Both Miller's Green and College Green contain a large number of listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Hi ...
s. College Green is entered through St Michael's Gate, which dates from the 14th century and is listed at Grade I. No.s 1, 2, 3, and 4 are listed Grade II and stand between St Michael's Gate and King Edward's Gate, which dates from the 16th century, was subject to a major restoration in the 19th century and is listed at II*. No.s 6, 7, and 8 conclude the south-western edge of the green and are all listed at Grade II.
No.9 College Green begins the western range of the close and is listed Grade II*. The western range includes No.s 10, 11, 12, Beaufort House, and 13, all of which are listed at Grade II, and concludes with No. 14, which is listed Grade II*.
The close is broken by St Mary's Gateway, a scheduled monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.
The various pieces of legislation that legally protect heritage assets from damage, visu ...
. The War Memorial to the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars was a volunteer yeomanry regiment which, in the 20th century, became part of the British Army Reserve. It traced its origins to the First or Cheltenham Troop of Gloucestershire Gentleman and Yeomanry raised i ...
Yeomanry, a Grade II* listed structure, stands in the centre of College Green. The northern side of College Green concludes with No. 15, Community House, which is Grade II listed, and Church House, which was originally the Abbot's Lodge and is now utilised as offices and a restaurant and is listed at Grade I. On the south-eastern edge of the Green, No.s 17, 18 and 19 are listed at Grade II, while 20 College Green is Grade II*.
Miller's Green is entered through the Inner Gateway, between Community House and No. 7, Miller's Green. The gateway dates from the 14th century and formed the gatehouse
A gatehouse is a type of fortified gateway, an entry control point building, enclosing or accompanying a gateway for a town, religious house, castle, manor house, or other fortification building of importance. Gatehouses are typically the most ...
to the monastic service court. It is a Grade I listed building, while No. 7 is listed at Grade II. Other buildings on Miller's Green include the Deanery
A deanery (or decanate) is an ecclesiastical entity in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, the Evangelical Church in Germany, and the Church of Norway. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of ...
, listed at Grade II*, the Old Mill House, No. 2 Miller's Green, listed at Grade II, and No.s 3, 4A, 4B, 5 and 6, all listed at Grade II.
9 College Green, Gloucester.jpg, No. 9, College Green
14 College Green, Gloucester.jpg, No. 14, College Green
20 College Green, Gloucester.JPG, No. 20, College Green
War memorial on College Green at Gloucester Cathedral - geograph.org.uk - 3017337.jpg, The war memorial on College Green
The Deanery, Gloucester-geograph.org.uk-4143651.jpg, The Deanery, No. 1, Miller's Green
Dean and chapter
* Dean — Andrew Zihni (since 23 April 2023)
*Canon Precentor & Director of Congregational Development — Craig Huxley-Jones (since 23 July 2023 installation)
*Canon Chancellor — Celia Thomson (since 15 March 2003 installation; previously Pastor)
*City Centre Rector (Diocesan Canon) — Nikki Arthy (since 2009; Rector of St Mary de Lode, St Mary de Crypt and Hempsted)
*Archdeacon of Gloucester
The Archdeacon of Gloucester is a senior ecclesiastical officer in the Diocese of Gloucester, England whose responsibilities include the care of clergy and church buildings within the area of the ''Archdeaconry of Gloucester.''
History
The first ...
(Diocesan Canon) — Hilary Dawson (since 27 January 2019 collation)
Music
Choir
In medieval times, daily worship was sung by boys and monks from the abbey. The cathedral's current choir was established by King Henry VIII
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...
in 1539, and at present is composed of 18 boy and 20 girl choristers, as well as 12 adult singers. The choristers attend the King's School, which was also founded by Henry VIII. The choir sings regularly during term time and at major religious festivals such as Christmas
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...
or Easter
Easter, also called Pascha ( Aramaic: פַּסְחָא , ''paskha''; Greek: πάσχα, ''páskha'') or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in t ...
. It also takes part in concerts and has been featured in choral evensong on BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It replaced the BBC Third Programme in 1967 and broadcasts classical music and opera, with jazz, world music, Radio drama, drama, High culture, culture and the arts ...
.
Organ
The cathedral's first organ was built by Thomas Harris in 1666. Its original case remains complete, the only such surviving example from the 17th century in England. The pipes displayed on the front of the case are still functional. Over the following four centuries many of the major English organ builders have made contributions to the organ, including modifications in 1847 and a complete rebuild in 1888–1889 by Henry "Father" Willis. Harrison & Harrison
Harrison & Harrison Ltd is a British company based in Durham that makes and restores pipe organs. It was established in Rochdale in 1861. It is well known for its work on instruments such as King's College, Cambridge, Westminster Abbey, and t ...
undertook a further reconstruction in 1920.
In 1971 Hill, Norman and Beard
William Hill & Son & Norman & Beard Limited (commonly known as Hill, Norman and Beard) were a major pipe organ manufacturer originally based in Norfolk.
History
They were founded in 1916 by the merger of Norman and Beard and William Hill & So ...
, working with the cathedral's organist John Sanders, and a consultant, Ralph Downes, completely redesigned the instrument, which was again overhauled in 1999 by Nicholson & Co. In 2010 Nicholson's added a Trompette Harmonique solo reed.[ As of 2023, the organ is out of commission, but the cathedral has contracted with Nicholsons for the latest reconstruction to be completed by the time of the next Three Choirs' Festival in 2026.][
]
Organists
In 1582, Robert Lichfield is recorded as the organist of Gloucester Cathedral. Notable among the organists are composers and choral conductors of the Three Choirs Festival, Herbert Brewer, Herbert Sumsion and John Sanders. Herbert Howells, who was a pupil of Brewer, composed a Magnificat and Nunc dimittis for Gloucester Cathedral
Three Choirs Festival
An annual musical festival, the Three Choirs Festival, is hosted by turns in this cathedral and those of Worcester
Worcester may refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England
** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament
* Worcester Park, London, Engl ...
and Hereford
Hereford ( ) is a cathedral city and the county town of the ceremonial county of Herefordshire, England. It is on the banks of the River Wye and lies east of the border with Wales, north-west of Gloucester and south-west of Worcester. With ...
in rotation. The Three Choirs is the oldest annual musical festival in the world.
Clock and bells
Clock
The cathedral's clock, bells and the chimes are referred to in a repair agreement of 1525. The present clock, installed in 1898, is by Dent and Co, who built the clock for Big Ben. There is no external dial, but there is a fine Art Nouveau clock face in the north transept, dating from 1903, designed by Henry Wilson
Henry Wilson (born Jeremiah Jones Colbath; February 16, 1812 – November 22, 1875) was the 18th vice president of the United States, serving from 1873 until his death in 1875, and a United States Senate, senator from Massachusetts from 1855 to ...
.
Bells
The bells were rehung and augmented in 1978 to give a ring of twelve. The two oldest bells date from before 1420, so they are older than the present tower. The bells are rung 'full circle' by the cathedral's band of ringers for the weekly practice session. In addition, there is Great Peter, the largest medieval bell in Britain, weighing a fraction under three tons. Great Peter is the hour bell and can also be heard ringing before the main services.
Burials and monuments
Gloucester Cathedral has a large collection of funerary monuments from the Middle Ages to the present. Notable people buried at Gloucester Cathedral include:
* Osric, King of the Hwicce
*Robert Curthose
Robert Curthose ( – February 1134, ), the eldest son of William the Conqueror, was Duke of Normandy as Robert II from 1087 to 1106.
Robert was also an unsuccessful pretender to the throne of the Kingdom of England. The epithet "Curthose" ...
, eldest son of William the Conqueror
William the Conqueror (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), sometimes called William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England (as William I), reigning from 1066 until his death. A descendant of Rollo, he was D ...
*Edward II of England
Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also known as Edward of Caernarfon or Caernarvon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir to the throne follo ...
, 6th Plantagenet
The House of Plantagenet ( /plænˈtædʒənət/ ''plan-TAJ-ə-nət'') was a royal house which originated from the French county of Anjou. The name Plantagenet is used by modern historians to identify four distinct royal houses: the Angev ...
King of England (1307–1327)
* John Wakeman, last Abbot of Tewkesbury and first Bishop of Gloucester
The Bishop of Gloucester is the Ordinary (officer), ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Gloucester, England, Diocese of Gloucester in the Province of Canterbury.
The diocese covers the Gloucestershire, County of Gloucestershire and part ...
(1541–1550)
* James Brooks, Bishop of Gloucester (1554–1558)
* Richard Cheyney, Bishop of Gloucester (1562–1579)
* John Bullingham, Bishop of Gloucester (1581–1598)
*Members of the Hyett family from the 17th and 18th centuries, whose remains were discovered accidentally in November 2015
* William Nicholson, Bishop of Gloucester (1660–1672)
* Martin Benson, Bishop of Gloucester (1734–1752)
* Richard Pate, landowner and MP for Gloucester
* Thomas Machen, mercer who was mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...
of Gloucester three times and one time MP for the city
* Dorothea Beale, Principal of the Cheltenham Ladies' College
Cheltenham Ladies' College (CLC) is a private schools in the United Kingdom, private boarding and day school for girls aged 11 or older in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. The school was established in 1853 to provide "a sound academic edu ...
, educational reformer and suffragist
* Ralph Bigland, Garter Principal King of Arms
Garter Principal King of Arms (also Garter King of Arms or simply Garter) is the senior king of arms and officer of arms of the College of Arms, the heraldic authority with jurisdiction over England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The position has ...
(1712–1784)
* Miles Nightingall, British army general (1768–1829)
*Albert Mansbridge
Albert Mansbridge, Order of the Companions of Honour, CH (10 January 1876, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England – 22 August 1952, Torquay, Devon) was an English educator who was one of the pioneers of adult education in Britain. He is best know ...
, pioneer of adult education
Adult education, distinct from child education, is a practice in which adults engage in systematic and sustained educating activities in order to gain new knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values. Merriam, Sharan B. & Brockett, Ralph G. ''The Pr ...
in Britain (1876–1952)
* John Yates, Bishop of Gloucester (1925–2008)
Memorial to Osric, Prince of Mercia, in Gloucester Cathedral 01.jpg, Tomb of Osric, King of the Hwicce
Robert Duke of NormandyGloucester Cathedral2.JPG, Tomb of Robert Curthose
Robert Curthose ( – February 1134, ), the eldest son of William the Conqueror, was Duke of Normandy as Robert II from 1087 to 1106.
Robert was also an unsuccessful pretender to the throne of the Kingdom of England. The epithet "Curthose" ...
Gloucester Cathedral 20190210 143009 (46707829225).jpg, Tomb of Edward II of England
Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also known as Edward of Caernarfon or Caernarvon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir to the throne follo ...
Memorial, Gloucester Cathedral - geograph.org.uk - 876639.jpg, Tomb of Thomas Machen
Sarah Morley Memorial detail Flaxman.jpg, Detail of monument to Sarah Morley by John Flaxman
John Flaxman (6 July 1755 – 7 December 1826) was a British sculptor and draughtsman, and a leading figure in British and European Neoclassicism. Early in his career, he worked as a modeller for Josiah Wedgwood's pottery. He spent several yea ...
Film and television location
The cathedral has been used as a filming location for movies and for TV including: the first, second
The second (symbol: s) is a unit of time derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes, and finally to 60 seconds each (24 × 60 × 60 = 86400). The current and formal definition in the International System of U ...
and sixth Harry Potter movies; the ''Doctor Who
''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...
'' episodes '' The Next Doctor'' and the '' Fugitive of the Judoon'';
'' The Hollow Crown''; ''Wolf Hall
''Wolf Hall'' is a 2009 historical novel by English author Hilary Mantel, published by Fourth Estate, named after the Seymour family's seat of Wolfhall, or Wulfhall, in Wiltshire. Set in the period from 1500 to 1535, ''Wolf Hall'' is a sym ...
''; the '' Sherlock'' special '' The Abominable Bride''; ''Mary Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567.
The only surviving legit ...
''; and all three of ''The Cousins' War'' adaptations'' The White Queen'', '' The White Princess'' and ''The Spanish Princess
''The Spanish Princess'' is a historical drama television limited series developed by Emma Frost (screenwriter), Emma Frost and Matthew Graham for Starz. Based on the novels ''The Constant Princess'' (2005) and ''The King's Curse'' (2014) by Phil ...
''.
Academic use
Degree ceremonies of the University of Gloucestershire
The University of Gloucestershire is a public university based in Gloucestershire, England. It is located over five campuses, three in Cheltenham and two in Gloucester.
The university is the successor of a large number of merged, name-changed ...
and the University of the West of England
The University of the West of England (also known as UWE Bristol) is a Public university, public research university, located in and around Bristol, England, UK. With more than 39,912 students and 4,300 staff, it is the largest provider of hi ...
(through Hartpury College) both take place at the cathedral. The cathedral is also used during school term-time as the venue for assemblies by The King's School, Gloucester, and for events by the Denmark Road High School, Crypt Grammar School, Sir Thomas Rich's School for boys and Ribston Hall High School.
Timeline
* 678-79 A small religious community was founded in Anglo-Saxon times by Osric of the Hwicce. His sister Kyneburga was the first abbess
An abbess (Latin: ''abbatissa'') is the female superior of a community of nuns in an abbey.
Description
In the Catholic Church (both the Latin Church and Eastern Catholic), Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, Lutheran and Anglican abbeys, the mod ...
.
* 1017 Secular priests expelled; the monastery given to Benedictine
The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, th ...
monks.
* 1072 Serlo, the first Norman abbot
Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the head of an independent monastery for men in various Western Christian traditions. The name is derived from ''abba'', the Aramaic form of the Hebrew ''ab'', and means "father". The female equivale ...
, appointed to the almost defunct monastery by William I William I may refer to:
Kings
* William the Conqueror (–1087), also known as William I, King of England
* William I of Sicily (died 1166)
* William I of Scotland (died 1214), known as William the Lion
* William I of the Netherlands and Luxembour ...
.
* 1089 Foundation stone of the new abbey church laid by Robert de Losinga, Bishop of Hereford
The Bishop of Hereford is the Ordinary (officer), ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Hereford in the Province of Canterbury. Until 1534, the Diocese of Hereford was in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church and two of its bishop ...
.
* 1100 Consecration of St Peter's Abbey.
* 1216 First coronation of Henry III.
* 1327 Burial of Edward II
Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also known as Edward of Caernarfon or Caernarvon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir to the throne follo ...
.
* 1331 Perpendicular
In geometry, two geometric objects are perpendicular if they intersect at right angles, i.e. at an angle of 90 degrees or π/2 radians. The condition of perpendicularity may be represented graphically using the '' perpendicular symbol'', � ...
remodelling of the quire.
* 1373 Great Cloister
A cloister (from Latin , "enclosure") is a covered walk, open gallery, or open Arcade (architecture), arcade running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle (architecture), quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cat ...
begun by Abbot Horton; completed by Abbott Frouster (1381–1412)
* 1420 West End rebuilt by Abbot Morwent.
* 1450 Tower begun by Abbot Sebrok; completed by Robert Tully.
* 1470 Lady Chapel rebuilt by Abbot Hanley; completed by Abbot Farley (1472–98).
* 1540 Dissolution of the abbey.
* 1541 Refounded as a cathedral by Henry VIII
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...
.
* 1616–1621 William Laud
William Laud (; 7 October 1573 – 10 January 1645) was a bishop in the Church of England. Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury by Charles I of England, Charles I in 1633, Laud was a key advocate of Caroline era#Religion, Charles I's religious re ...
holds the office of Dean of Gloucester
* 1649–1660 Abolition of dean and chapter, reinstated by Charles II
* 1666 Installation of Great Organ by Thomas Harris
* 1735–1752 Martin Benson, Bishop of Gloucester, carried out major repairs and alterations to the cathedral.
* 1847–1873 Beginning of extensive Victorian restoration
The Victorian restoration was the widespread and extensive wikt:refurbish, refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England church (building), churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century Victorian era, re ...
work ( Frederick S. Waller and George Gilbert Scott
Sir George Gilbert Scott (13 July 1811 – 27 March 1878), largely known as Sir Gilbert Scott, was a prolific English Gothic Revival architect, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches and cathedrals, although he ...
, architects).
* 1953 Major appeal for the restoration of the cathedral; renewed
* 1968 Cathedral largely re-roofed and other major work completed.
* 1989 900th anniversary appeal.
* 1994 Restoration of tower completed.
* 2000 Celebration of the novecentennial of the consecration of St Peter's Abbey.
* 2015 Installation of Rachel Treweek
Rachel Treweek (née Montgomery; born 4 February 1963) is an English Anglican bishop who has served as Bishop of Gloucester since 2015 and is the joint third female bishop in the Church of England, and first female diocesean bishop. A former spe ...
as the Church of England
The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...
's first female diocesan bishop.
See also
* Architecture of the medieval cathedrals of England
*Gothic cathedrals and churches
Gothic cathedrals and churches are religious buildings constructed in Europe in Gothic style between the mid-12th century and the beginning of the 16th century. The cathedrals are notable particularly for their great height and their extensive u ...
* List of Gothic Cathedrals in Europe
* List of cathedrals in the United Kingdom
*List of tallest structures built before the 20th century
List of pre-twentieth century structures by height
See also
*History of the world's tallest buildings
*List of tallest buildings and structures
References
{{Tallest buildings and structures
Lists of tallest structures, Ancient structur ...
* Christopher Whall works in Gloucester Cathedral
Notes
References
Sources
*
*
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*
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*
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*
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*
*
*
*
Further reading
* Published in America as
External links
*
A history of the choristers of Gloucester Cathedral
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gloucester Abbey
681 establishments
Anglican cathedrals in England
Benedictine monasteries in England
Church of England church buildings in Gloucester
Coronation church buildings
Diocese of Gloucester
English Gothic architecture in Gloucestershire
Grade I listed churches in Gloucestershire
Grade I listed cathedrals
Grade I listed buildings in Gloucestershire
Grade II* listed buildings in Gloucestershire
Monasteries in Gloucestershire
English churches with Norman architecture
Tourist attractions in Gloucestershire
History of Gloucester
Pre-Reformation Roman Catholic cathedrals
Monasteries dissolved under the English Reformation
Anglo-Saxon monastic houses
Burial sites of the De Lacy family
Burial sites of the House of Normandy