Wells Cathedral

One of England's smallest cathedrals ("only" 383 feet long and 82 feet wide--135 in the transepts) but also one of its most perfect, most charming, and most beloved, Wells was the only cathedral where we were able to attend Sunday worship--a fantastic and vibrant service, with a remarkably fine sermon.  We returned Tuesday to photograph it properly.  It was not hard to see why so many cathedral aficionados speak with such reverence of Wells.

 

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Gloucester Cathedral

Gloucester Cathedral, among the six cathedrals we visited, is the only one that is not, strictly speaking, a medieval cathedral.  The structure is medieval, of course, the result of a four centuries of accretions on a Norman abbey.  But it was not made a cathedral until 1541, being one of three abbeys Henry VIII decided to preserve for the purpose.  Because of this, it is smaller and on the whole less grand than many of England's great cathedrals, but we were pleasantly surprised by its many charms.  

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Exeter Cathedral

Although far from England's finest, Exeter Cathedral (built 1133-1400) does have its claims to fame.  Chiefest, to my mind, is its possession of a fine statue of Richard Hooker toward the north entrance of the Close--the only such statue I am aware of (though I'm sure there must be others somewhere)--and the one that is always used in pictures of Hooker.  

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Salisbury Cathedral

Can anything rival Salisbury Cathedral for sheer elegant beauty?  The smooth curved lines from end to end fuse together into a perfectly harmonious whole, unlike the confused and crowded jumble of architectural elements and styles that hinders many otherwise great cathedrals.  

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Winchester Cathedral

Once home to the early monarchs of the English Kingdom, Winchester remained of the great sees of the Church through the later Middle Ages and the Reformation period (bookended by bishops Stephen Gardiner and Lancelot Andrewes!), and despite suffering grievously from Reformation and Cromwellian depredations, still boasts one of the greatest cathedrals in the land.  At an astounding 170 meters (558 ft), Winchester is the longest medieval church building still standing, and the longest medieval cathedral ever built.  Its stunning nave offers an unobstructed view to the stained glass window at the end of the choir, nearly 500 feet away.

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