Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire.
The Millennium Pilgrim by Rory Young.
Southwell Minster is the Cathedral of Nottinghamshire. For nearly one thousand years Southwell Minster has been a place of pilgrimage. Its rural location and stunning, but quirky, architecture have made it a "must see" destination throughout the centuries. John Betjeman put his finger on it when he noted that "everywhere around is an atmosphere of peace and in the Minster there's one of prayer."
A large Roman villa originally stood on the Minster site. In 956, the land was given by the King of Wessex to the Archbishop of York and a church was built. In 1108 the then Archbishop put in process the rebuilding of this Anglo-Saxon church and Southwell Minster, as we know it today, was begun. The twin "pepperpot" towers on the west front were completed by 1170, while the celebrated Chapter House - with its wonderful carved stone leaves - was constructed circa 1300. During the first half of the 15th century the original windows of the west front of the cathedral were replaced by a huge Perpendicular window in the latest style.
The Minster survived the Reformation relatively unscathed but, during the Civil War, it was damaged when used as stabling by Roundhead forces (King Charles 1 spent his final night of freedom in Southwell). In 1711 - on 5th November, appropriately enough - much more serious damage occurred when a fire ripped off the roof, destroying most of the bells and the organ. Repairs were limited, with an unsatisfactory, almost flat, roof being put on. In 1815, the spires on the pepperpot towers had become unsafe and were removed, rather than replaced.
It wasn't until 1851 that the serious repairs needed were finally put in hand and the building was sympathetically worked on over the next forty years. In 1884, Southwell Minster became the Cathedral church and should, today, be correctly styled "Southwell Cathedral" - but the traditional name has stuck.
In the 21st century visitors continue to come to worship, to pray and to admire Southwell Minster and enjoy one of England's finest medieval churches, which is now widely acknowledged to be Nottinghamshire's most loved building.
Southwell Minster and Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin.
The Minster is built on, or immediately adjacent to, the site of a Roman building complex. The tympanum in the north transept is of Saxon-Norman date and may have come from the pre-Conquest church on this site, as have four baluster shafts now preserved in the nearby Minster Centre. Work began on the Norman nave in 1108, using stone from Mansfield quarries.
The church is a cruciform structure with nave, transepts, screen, choir, sanctuary, three side chapels, chapter house, north porch, twin west towers and a central tower containing 13 bells. The nave has seven bays with the pattern of columns and arches repeated at the triforium and again at the clerestory.
Important historiated capitals of the early 12th century, depicting the Last Supper and other key scenes, decorate the east crossing piers. The composition of the 12th century transepts is strong and simple with blank arcading the whole height of the ground floor. The north porch is Norman, zigzag-decorated and tunnel vaulted (very rare in England); it has a room with a fireplace above.
In 1234 The Archbishop of York decided to pull down the Norman east end and replace it with a larger and longer Early English choir. The pattern is identical to that at Beverley and Salisbury. In c1288 work began on the Chapter House. The entrance is via a marvellous pointed arch decorated with superlative carved leaves. Inside the octagonal structure, unsupported by a central column, contains no Christian symbolism but delightful carvings of leaves, animals, birds and Green Men. The form of the Chapter House bears similarities with those at Wells and Elgin cathedrals. The stone screen was added in c1320-40, replacing one of c1250 and restored in 1820 by the Bernasconi brothers. There are masses of small heads full of caricature, jokes, lust and laughter. The sedilia must be by the same masons, who might have been directed by the Master Mason Ivo de Raghton.
The brass lectern dates from 1503 and the font from 1661. The pulpit is by G F Bodley.
The timber barrel-vaulted roof of the nave and the pinnacles of the west towers were designed by Ewan Christian in 1879-81 and replicate those destroyed by fire in 1711.
There is good Victorian glass by O’Connor and Kempe. The glass in the great west window was designed by Patrick Reyntiens and installed in 1996.
There is good wood carving ranging from medieval misericords to Thompson’s mice.
A fine alabaster memorial to the Archbishop of York, Edwyn Sandys, is matched by a bronze bust of Sir Edwyn Hoskins, 2nd Bishop of Southwell, and a large bronze figure of George Ridding, the first Bishop.
The Minster became the cathedral for the new Diocese of Southwell in 1884.
Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire.
The Millennium Pilgrim by Rory Young.
Southwell Minster is the Cathedral of Nottinghamshire. For nearly one thousand years Southwell Minster has been a place of pilgrimage. Its rural location and stunning, but quirky, architecture have made it a "must see" destination throughout the centuries. John Betjeman put his finger on it when he noted that "everywhere around is an atmosphere of peace and in the Minster there's one of prayer."
A large Roman villa originally stood on the Minster site. In 956, the land was given by the King of Wessex to the Archbishop of York and a church was built. In 1108 the then Archbishop put in process the rebuilding of this Anglo-Saxon church and Southwell Minster, as we know it today, was begun. The twin "pepperpot" towers on the west front were completed by 1170, while the celebrated Chapter House - with its wonderful carved stone leaves - was constructed circa 1300. During the first half of the 15th century the original windows of the west front of the cathedral were replaced by a huge Perpendicular window in the latest style.
The Minster survived the Reformation relatively unscathed but, during the Civil War, it was damaged when used as stabling by Roundhead forces (King Charles 1 spent his final night of freedom in Southwell). In 1711 - on 5th November, appropriately enough - much more serious damage occurred when a fire ripped off the roof, destroying most of the bells and the organ. Repairs were limited, with an unsatisfactory, almost flat, roof being put on. In 1815, the spires on the pepperpot towers had become unsafe and were removed, rather than replaced.
It wasn't until 1851 that the serious repairs needed were finally put in hand and the building was sympathetically worked on over the next forty years. In 1884, Southwell Minster became the Cathedral church and should, today, be correctly styled "Southwell Cathedral" - but the traditional name has stuck.
In the 21st century visitors continue to come to worship, to pray and to admire Southwell Minster and enjoy one of England's finest medieval churches, which is now widely acknowledged to be Nottinghamshire's most loved building.
Southwell Minster and Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin.
The Minster is built on, or immediately adjacent to, the site of a Roman building complex. The tympanum in the north transept is of Saxon-Norman date and may have come from the pre-Conquest church on this site, as have four baluster shafts now preserved in the nearby Minster Centre. Work began on the Norman nave in 1108, using stone from Mansfield quarries.
The church is a cruciform structure with nave, transepts, screen, choir, sanctuary, three side chapels, chapter house, north porch, twin west towers and a central tower containing 13 bells. The nave has seven bays with the pattern of columns and arches repeated at the triforium and again at the clerestory.
Important historiated capitals of the early 12th century, depicting the Last Supper and other key scenes, decorate the east crossing piers. The composition of the 12th century transepts is strong and simple with blank arcading the whole height of the ground floor. The north porch is Norman, zigzag-decorated and tunnel vaulted (very rare in England); it has a room with a fireplace above.
In 1234 The Archbishop of York decided to pull down the Norman east end and replace it with a larger and longer Early English choir. The pattern is identical to that at Beverley and Salisbury. In c1288 work began on the Chapter House. The entrance is via a marvellous pointed arch decorated with superlative carved leaves. Inside the octagonal structure, unsupported by a central column, contains no Christian symbolism but delightful carvings of leaves, animals, birds and Green Men. The form of the Chapter House bears similarities with those at Wells and Elgin cathedrals. The stone screen was added in c1320-40, replacing one of c1250 and restored in 1820 by the Bernasconi brothers. There are masses of small heads full of caricature, jokes, lust and laughter. The sedilia must be by the same masons, who might have been directed by the Master Mason Ivo de Raghton.
The brass lectern dates from 1503 and the font from 1661. The pulpit is by G F Bodley.
The timber barrel-vaulted roof of the nave and the pinnacles of the west towers were designed by Ewan Christian in 1879-81 and replicate those destroyed by fire in 1711.
There is good Victorian glass by O’Connor and Kempe. The glass in the great west window was designed by Patrick Reyntiens and installed in 1996.
There is good wood carving ranging from medieval misericords to Thompson’s mice.
A fine alabaster memorial to the Archbishop of York, Edwyn Sandys, is matched by a bronze bust of Sir Edwyn Hoskins, 2nd Bishop of Southwell, and a large bronze figure of George Ridding, the first Bishop.
The Minster became the cathedral for the new Diocese of Southwell in 1884.