The following information has been condensed from
articles in Wikipedia and the official
Exeter Cathedral website (highly
recommended).
Exeter Cathedral is built on the site of a camp
of the Roman Army's II Augustan Legion.
Archaeological evidence of 5th century Christian
Worship has been found in the vicinity.
In the latter part of the seventh century St
Boniface the Patron Saint of Germany was educated
at a monastery or church adjacent to the
Cathedral's present location. The founding of the
cathedral dedicated to Saint Peter at Exeter
dates from 1050, when the seat of the bishop of
Devon and Cornwall was transferred from Crediton
because of a fear of raids.
A Saxon minster already existing within the
town (and dedicated to Saint Mary and Saint
Peter) was used by Bishop Leofric as his seat,
but services were often held out of doors close
to the site of the present cathedral
building.
In 1107, William Warelwast, a nephew of William
the Conqueror, was appointed to the see, and this
was the catalyst for the building of a new
cathedral in the Norman style. Its official
foundation was in 1133 (after Warelwast's time)
but it took many more years to complete.
Following the appointment of Walter Bronescombe
as bishop in 1258, the building was already
recognized as outmoded and it was rebuilt in the
Decorated Gothic style following the example of
nearby Salisbury. However, much of the Norman
building was kept, including the two massive
square towers and part of the walls. It was
constructed entirely of local stone, including
Purbeck Marble. The new cathedral was complete,
apart from the chapter house and chantry chapels,
by about 1400.
The Norman North Tower (below) dedicated in 1133,
rebuilt after King Stephen's siege in 1136, is
viewed here from across the Cathedral
Green.
The statue (right) is of Exeter's Richard Hooker,
the Exeter divine whose arguments prevented the
Church of England becoming wholly puritan during
the Reformation.
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The West Front of the cathedral
(right)
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Like most English cathedrals, Exeter suffered
during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, but
not as much as it would have done had it been a
monastic foundation. Further damage was done
during the English Civil War, when the cloisters
were destroyed.
Following the restoration of Charles II, a
magnificent new pipe organ was built in the
cathedral by John Loosemore. During the Victorian
era, some refurbishment was carried out by George
Gilbert Scott.
The bombing of the city in World War II caused
considerable damage to the cathedral, including
the loss of most of the stained glass.
Subsequent repairs and the clearance of the area
around the western end of the building uncovered
portions of earlier structures, including remains
of the Roman city and of the original Norman
cathedral.
Notable features of the interior include the
great clock (see the next page), the minstrels'
gallery (part of which is to be seen in the top
left hand corner of the picture (above left), and
the ceiling bosses, one of which depicts the
murder of Thomas Becket.
Because there is no centre tower, Exeter
Cathedral has the longest uninterrupted vaulted
ceiling in England.
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The
pulpitum screen (1317-1325) encloses the
Quire
and
supports the organ. (right)
The
tomb of Bishop Edmund Stafford 1395-1419
(below)
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Bishop Edmund Stafford 1395-1419
A visit to Exeter continues on the following
page.
Please click on the 'Next' button (below
right)
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