David Pepin - Cathedrals of Britain

This electronic edition published in 2015 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Published in Great Britain in 2016 by Shire Publications Ltd (part of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc), PO Box 883, Oxford, OX1 9PL, UK.

PO Box 3985, New York, NY 10185-3985, USA.

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2016 David Pepin.

First published as Discovering Cathedrals, no. 112 in the Shire Discovering series, in 1971, 1994 and 2004. This new book comprises an extensively revised image selection and entirely new design.

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Every attempt has been made by the Publishers to secure the appropriate permissions for materials reproduced in this book. If there has been any oversight we will be happy to rectify the situation and a written submission should be made to the Publishers.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Shire Library no. 831. ISBN-13: 978-1-78442-049-9

PDF e-book ISBN: 978-1-7844-2104-5
ePub ISBN: 978-1-7844-2103-8

David Pepin has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this book.

DEDICATION

For June, Nick and Tom.

AUTHORS NOTE

Every effort has been made to provide correct information in the section on individual cathedrals, but from time to time movable objects, furnishings, monuments and such like may be changed or relocated. Furthermore new works of art constantly enhance the glory of our cathedral churches. Although this book is about rare things and beautiful buildings the author stresses that people come first and that when marvelling at the architecture one should not lose sight of the buildings ecumenical purpose and function in the community. A stroll around can become a purposeful spiritual journey or pilgrimage, an experience to enrich long after leaving the building, which radiates stability, continuity and timelessness.

Shire Publications is supporting the Woodland Trust, the UKs leading woodland conservation charity, by funding the dedication of trees.

INTRODUCTION

Certain of Britains cathedrals rank as architectural landmarks of the highest order, even when they are compared with their counterparts in the rest of Europe. Each cathedral is unique and even the modest ones, whose architecture is less attractive, often possess features and treasures which are unknown elsewhere.

Many people who visit these national shrines and year by year more and more are joining their ranks will naturally have their favourites.

Cathedrals are not museums. While they embody much of great beauty and historical interest, first and foremost they are places of worship and, ideally, centres of service, connected with people past and present. The beauty associated with the worship conveyed in the music, ceremonial and architecture stems from a great faith through the ages. Of course it is not wrong simply to enjoy the architecture, but to know why a church or cathedral was built in the first place adds to this enjoyment. To inspire us there is the architectural beauty of the sacred space, the worship and music. Even in the silence, in the peace and quiet, something of the divine come down to earth will hopefully be experienced, and also the relevance of our nations diverse Christian heritage.