The Visit Medway website [visit
link] tells us:
"Rochester
Cathedral was consecrated in AD604 and the present building initiated by Bishop
Gundulf in 1080. The architecture is Norman, Gothic and Early-English
Perpendicular with a fine crypt, medieval wall paintings and a magnificent 15th
century chapter room doorway.
Rochester Cathedral is the second
oldest in England. As you wander around this beautiful and spiritual cathedral
you will see a fine collection of medieval wall paintings and the first genuine
fresco to be painted in an English cathedral for nearly 800
years.
The cathedral’s ancient history is
brought to life via new interactive exhibits, revealing the untold stories of
its ancient stones. Visitors can now explore the cathedral using new leaflets,
translated in several languages.
Interpretation panels at key
locations compliment this by giving a broad overview of the historic site. Audio
tours (available in several languages) with visual presentations projected on
cathedral walls as you take the tour. For a broad and engaging tour, take a
stroll with musician Jools Holland as he narrates. For the younger audience let
Egburga Eagle show you around as she swoops in and out of the cathedral rafters
or for a more relaxing and spiritual experience take the reflective
tour."
The Cathedral's website [visit link] tells
us:
"Worship - Daily worship is central
to the life of this place, indeed, there has been a community worshipping
continually on this site for over 1400 years.
Today's community is made up of
clergy and laity who are here to serve and support the diocese, the local and
wider communities, and the many thousands of visitors and tourists who come
through our doors.
The Second Oldest - Rochester
Cathedral is England's second oldest, having been founded in 604AD by Bishop
Justus. The present building dates back to the work of the French monk, Gundulf,
in 1080. The glorious Norman architecture of the nave, parts of the crypt, as
well as one of the finest Romanesque facades in England, make this an
inspirational place to visit. The Cathedral is blessed with some fine examples
of later Gothic styles as well as the magnificent 14th century Chapter Library
door. Hidden from view (although it can be viewed by special appointment)
is one of the oldest doors in England.
604 Saxon Cathedral built - King
Ethelbert donates land
1083 Bishop Gundulf began building the
Nave
1201 Pilgrims visit shrine of murdered William of Perth
1215
Cathedral was plundered and later desecrated
1340 Hamo de Hythe
redecorates Quire
1872 Major restoration by George Gilbert
Scott
2004 1400th anniversary of cathedral and diocese
A Place of Pilgrimage - The
Cathedral became a major place of pilgrimage in the 13th century, following the
death of William of Perth, a Scottish baker who was murdered nearby. His body
was brought to the Cathedral and at his shrine, of which no trace remains,
miracles were reported. Modern pilgrims who journey to the Cathedral still
climb the Pilgrim Steps, now worn by the many thousands of medieval pilgrims
visiting the shrine, often lighting candles at the William of Perth
prayer-station in front of the oratory. Visitors who journey to the
Cathedral today a re direct descendants of those early pilgrims.
John the Baptist's Fresco - The
first real fresco to be created in an English Cathedral for 800 years was
dedicated on St John the Baptist's Day 2004. The fresco is on the theme of
baptism. Its creation is the first step towards creating a baptistery in the
north nave transept. The fresco was painted by Sergei Fyodorov, the Russian
iconographer, and the richness and size of this narrative painting draws
visitors from near and far; some to admire its artistry, and others to use it as
a focus of meditation and prayer."
The Cathedral is a Grade I listed
building with the entry at the English Heritage website [visit
link] telling us:
"Cathedral Church of Christ and the
Blessed Virgin Mary of Rochester (formerly Priory of St Andrew was included)
24-10-50 GV I Cathedral Church. C7 origins (reverted in excavations). Re-
established as a cathedral-priory by Bishop Gandulf and rebuilt by him
(1078-1108); parts of his cathedral survive within the present walling of the
nave aisles along with the formerly detached Gandulf's tower and parts of the
crypt. Mid-C12 rebuilding (W front no earlier than the late-1140s). E end
(including E 2 bays of nave) c.1210-40. Alterations (mainly refenestration) in
C14 and C15. Early C16 Lady Chapel. Major restorations by Cottingham (1825),
Scott (1870s, mainly E end repairs and internal refurbishing), Pearson (1888,
especially the W front), and C Hodgson-Fowler (1904-5 rebuilding of central
tower).
Ragstone with limestone ashlar and
dressings; slate and lead roofs. Nave and aisles of 8 bays; Lady Chapel in angle
formed by S aisle and transept, central crossing (with tower), aisled choir
(with Gandulf's Tower to N), E transepts, aisleless presbytery with library and
chapter room to S. Crypt.
The cathedral is fully described and
evaluated in Newham (1980, pp 470-88); detailed descriptions given there are not
duplicated in this account which is cross-referenced to Newman throughout. Of
particular importance note Gandulf's Tower (p 473): the original ashlar lining
has been replaced in brick but enough survives at 2nd-floor level to confirm the
existence of a doorway that must have led by way of a wooden bridge into the N
transept. The nave gallery (p 475) is unusual in that it possesses no floor. W
front (carefully restored by Pearson) retains important carving to the central
portal (left untouched by Pearson) influenced by St Denys of the 1140s. The
design of the E parts is of great interest and quality: the presbytery has no
aisles and its elevation is of 2 storeys (unique in an English cathedral, Newman
p 478); the choir is unusual in having solid walls dividing it from the N and S
aisles (p 479). Not mentioned in Newman is the library, entered through the
Decorated doorway in the SE transept (p 479): C15 with wall plate (wavy and
oncave moulding), C17 (possibly re-worked) doorcase to S, C18 panelled shutters
with HL hinges; fireplace with eared architrave with cyma moulding.
Fittings and Furnishings. Nave.
Font, by Earp, 1893: stone, circular bowl on clustered shafts; figures under
arcade with larger baptismal scenes at cardinal points. Glass. W window (8
lights), 1880s, Clayton & Bell, upper tier of OT figures (Joshua, David,
Jeptha etc) with scenes from their lives in lower lights. This, with the mosaic
tablets below, form a monument to the Royal Engineers who fell in the Italian
and South African campaigns. Aisles. Monuments: Francis Barrell (1676), Francis
Barrell (1724), Ann Spice (1795), all N (see Newman, P 485), with minor C19
tablets, many to military men. Richard Somer (1682), An Henniker (1792), John
Lord Henniker (1806), all S (see Newman, p 485) with , in addition, an early C18
pedimented tablet to Daniel and Francis Hill (1729) and a substantial mural war
memorial (dated 1903) to the fallen of the South Africa War, foliated marble
frame frame with raised script epitaph. Glass: interesting Romanesque Revival
glass (1880s) and Christian Warriors, to W end of N and S aisles; N aisle, NE,
by Kempe, signed. One S aisle window with a fiture of St Luke in the C17 manner,
not dated or signed. Pulpit: woden, large, polygonal, with canopied facets, on a
stem with open arcaded stair. Lady Chapel. Glass. An interesting and large-scale
sequence of Flemish-style windows, C.1910-18, possibly by Burlison & Grylls,
scenes from the Life of Christ with various saints. S transect. Jacobethan
revival screen, c.1928, into Lady Chapel. Monuments: Sir Richard Head (1689),
Richard Watts (1736), Sir Edward Head (1798), Sir William Franklin (1833), James
Forbes (1836), all mural, and effigy of Dean Hole (1905), see Newman, p 484.
Glass: clerestory windows, Kempe, 1898; S window, 1888, Clayton & Bell,
various saints, a memorial to Royal Engineers who fell in Egypt and Sudan Wars.
N transept. Monuments to Augustine Caesar (1677) and John Parr (1792), Newman, p
484. N and S choir aisles. Bishop John de Bradfield (1283) and Hamo de Heth
(1352) described by Newman, p 484. Choir: pulpitum, organ frontal, stalls,
Bishop's throne all by Scott; pulpitum figures by Pearson.
Medieval furnishings survived in
part and were incorporated in the new work and provided the model for Scott's
designs. The mural decoration is a copy of the medieval scheme which had also
survived concealed behind later panelling. E end. The important C13 and C14
tombs are described and assessed in Newman pp 481-3, as are the monuments to
Bishops Lowe (1467), and Warner (1666), Archdeacon Warner (1679) and Lee Warner
(1698). Altar with reredos (Last Supper in relief) Caen stone; openwork wooden
pulpit; mosaic on E wall to rear of altar (possibly modelled on medieval
decoration uncovered in 1825), and the entire titled floor design, al by Scott.
Glass. Presbytery windows by Clayton & Bell (1873); NE transept also by
Clayton & Bell, but later (1880s); SE transept glass by Gibbs and Hardman
(transept aisle) and Clayton & Bell (transept proper); details of glass from
Palmer (1897)."