Ely Cathedral |
|
| The West Tower (1174-97) | |
| Dedication | Holy Trinity |
|---|---|
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Tradition | Broad Church |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Ely |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Clergy | |
| Dean | Very Revd Dr Michael Chandler |
| Sub-dean | (Vice Dean) Revd Canon Dr Peter Sills |
| Canon | (Canon Missioner) Revd Canon Dr Alan Hargrave |
| Precentor | Revd Canon David Pritchard |
| Other | |
| Organist/Director of Music | Paul Trepte |
| Organist | Jonathan Lilley |
| Website | www.elycathedral.org |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
Ely Cathedral (in full, The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Ely) is the principal church of the diocese of Ely, in Cambridgeshire, England, and the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Ely. In many rites of the Roman Catholic Church and in Anglican churches, a diocese is an administrative territorial unit administered by a Bishop. Ely (, rhyming with "freely" is a Cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England. History Cambridgeshire is noted as the site of some of the earliest known Neolithic permanent settlement in the United Kingdom, along with sites at Fengate England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in It is known locally as "the ship of the Fens", because of its prominent shape that towers above the surrounding flat and watery landscape. The Fens, also known as the Fenland, is a geographic area in eastern England, in the United Kingdom.
Contents |
History
Previous buildings
- See also: List of abbots and abbesses of Ely
The first Christian building on the site was founded by St. Æthelthryth (romanised as "Etheldreda"), daughter of the Anglo-Saxon King Anna of East Anglia, who was born in 630 at Exning near Newmarket. The roots of the Diocese of Ely are ancient and the area of Ely was part of the patrimony of Saint Etheldreda. Æthelthryth, or Æðelþryð, (c 636 - June 23 679) is the proper name for the popular Anglo-Saxon Saint almost universally For their language see Anglo-Saxon language. Anglo-Saxon is the term usually used to describe the invading Tribes in the south Anna was a mid-7th century King of East Anglia. He was the nephew of Raedwald of East Anglia, and probably the second of the sons of Eni, Raedwald's brother Events By Place Byzantine Empire Serbs settle in the Balkans having been invited by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius Exning is a village in Suffolk, England It lies just off the A14 trunk road roughly 12 miles east-northeast of Cambridge, and 10 miles south-south-east of [1] She may have acquired land at Ely from her first husband Tondberht, described by Bede as a "prince" of the South Gyrwas. Bede (ˈbiːd (also Saint Bede, the Venerable Bede, or (from Latin Beda (beda (c Gyrwe can mean Gyruum, representing Anglo-Saxon Gyrwum = " the Marsh dwellers" from Anglo-Saxon gyr = "mud" [2] After the end of her second marriage to Ecgfrith, a prince of Northumbria, she set up and ruled a monastery at Ely in 673, and, when she died, a shrine was built there to her memory. Ecgfrith (c 645– May 20, 685) was the King of Northumbria from 670 until his death Events By Place Europe Hlothhere becomes king of Kent. The city of Ely, England is founded The monastery is traditionally believed to have been destroyed in the Danish invasions of the late 9th century, together with what is now the city. However, while the lay settlement of the time would have been a minor one, it is likely that a church survived there until its refoundation in the 10th century. In religious organizations the laity comprises all persons who are not Clergy. [3]
A new Benedictine monastery was built and endowed on the site by Athelwold, Bishop of Winchester, in 970, in a wave of monastic refoundations which locally included Peterborough and Ramsey. Saint Æthelwold of Winchester (also spelled Aethelwald, Ethelwold, etc (909-984 was a 10th century Bishop of Winchester and leader of the monastic See also List of bishops of Winchester The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England 970 was a year in the 10th century. Events This is an area code in Northwest Colorado Also see 970 Gang By Place Peterborough Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Peter St Paul and St Andrew, is the seat of the Bishop of Peterborough, is dedicated to Saint Peter Ramsey Abbey is a former Benedictine Abbey located in Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, England, south east of Peterborough and north [4] This became a cathedral in 1109, after a new Diocese of Ely was created out of land taken from the Diocese of Lincoln. The Diocese of Ely is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury. The Diocese of Lincoln forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England.
The present building
The present cathedral was started by Abbot Simeon (1082-1094, brother of Walkelin, the then bishop of Winchester) under William I in 1083. Simeon was a relative of William I and the brother of Walkelin, through whose influence he was made Prior of Winchester, then in 1082 Abbot Walkelin or Walchelin (died 1098 was the first Norman Bishop of Winchester. See also List of bishops of Winchester The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England William I of England ( 1027 His reign which brought Norman culture to England had an enormous impact on the subsequent course of England in the Middle Ages Building continued under Simeon's successor, Abbot Richard (1100-1107). The Anglo-Saxon church was demolished, but some of its relics, such as the remains of its benefactors, were moved to the cathedral. The main transepts were built early on, crossing the nave below a central tower, and are the oldest surviving part of the cathedral. The West Tower (215 feet) was built between 1174 and 1197 and the Romanesque style of the west front overall shows that it was built in the 12th century, with the later addition of the Galilee porch (1198-1215). Regional characteristics of Romanesque architecture|Romanesque art Romanesque architecture is the term that is used to describe the architecture of Middle Ages Europe which The west tower is 66m high (215ft). The unique Octagon 'Lantern Tower' was constructed during the 1300s and replaced the old central tower which collapsed. 'The Lantern' is 23m (74ft) wide and is 52m (170ft) high. From the floor to central roof boss 'The Lantern' is 43m (142ft) high.
The cathedral is built from stone quarried from Barnack in Northamptonshire (bought from Peterborough Abbey, whose lands included the quarries, for 8000 eels a year), with decorations in Purbeck Marble and local clunch. Barnack is a village and Civil parish in the City of Peterborough Unitary authority of Cambridgeshire, England. Northamptonshire (or archaically the County of Northampton; abbreviated Northants Peterborough Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Peter St Paul and St Andrew, is the seat of the Bishop of Peterborough, is dedicated to Saint Peter Purbeck Marble is a Fossiliferous Limestone quarried in the Isle of Purbeck, a Peninsula in south-east Dorset, England Clunch is a traditional Building material used mainly in eastern England and Normandy. The plan of the building is cruciform (cross-shaped), with the altar at the east end. An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place The total length is 565 feet (172. 2 m), with the nave over 75 m long (250ft), it remains the longest in Britain.
Attached to the north transept is the Lady Chapel (built 1321-1349 in the Decorated style) by the sacrist Alan of Walsingham. Alan of Walsingham, died c 1364 a celebrated Architect, first heard of in 1314 as a junior monk at Ely, distinguished by his skill in goldsmith's work It was to his plans, too, that the octagonal tower or octagon (1322-1328) was built after Simeon's original crossing tower collapsed in 1322, injuring nobody but destroying the choir. This central octagon rises from the whole breadth of the building and towers up until its roof, a wooden lantern, forms the only Gothic dome in existence. The north-west transept collapsed in the 15th century and was never rebuilt, leaving a scar on the outside of that corner that can still be seen.
Later history
In 1539, during Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries, the cathedral suffered only minor damage, but St Etheldreda's shrine was destroyed. Henry VIII (28 June 1491 &ndash 28 January 1547 was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the formal process between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded The cathedral was soon refounded in 1541, although many of the statues in the lady chapel were severely damaged.
The Bishop of Ely in the mid 17th century was Matthew Wren and in connection with this, his nephew Christopher Wren was responsible for a rather splendid Gothic door, dating from the 1650s, on the north face of the cathedral. Matthew Wren ( December 3, 1585 &ndash April 24, 1667) was an influential English clergyman and scholar Sir Christopher Wren ( 20 October 1632 &ndash 25 February 1723) was a 17th century English Designer, Astronomer
The building has been the subject of several major restoration projects:
- in the 18th century, under James Essex
- in 1839, under George Peacock, with the architect George Gilbert Scott (the architect Basevi died in a fall from the west tower). Year 1839 ( MDCCCXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Sir George Gilbert Scott ( 13 July 1811 &ndash 27 March, 1878) was an English Architect of the Victorian Age A painted wooden ceiling was added to the nave in this restoration.
- from 1986 to 2000
The building is still in active use, and also houses a collection of stained glass from the 13th century to the present that is of national importance and includes works from notable contemporary artists like Ervin Bossanyi and others. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. For the Blackford Oakes novel see Stained Glass (novel The term stained glass refers either to the material of coloured Glass or to the art Ervin Bossányi (3 March 1891 in southern Hungary – 11 July 1975 in Eastcote in Greater London in
Music
Ely has a cathedral choir of boys and men, which has recently attracted international attention because of its association with The Choirboys: two of its members, Patrick Aspbury and CJ Porter-Thaw, are choristers at the cathedral. For the musical composition see Chorale. A choir, chorale, or chorus is a Musical ensemble of Singers The Choirboys are an English Boyband, made up of Cathedral Choristers so the members have only a brief time in the group before the inevitable voice-change Boys are educated in the junior department of The King's School, Ely.
Recently, the cathedral community has started up an adult voluntary choir, the Octagon Singers, and a children's choir, the Ely Imps. The Ely Cathedral Girls' Choir was also launched in 2006, comprising 18 girl choristers.
Organ
Details of the organ from the National Pipe Organ Register
Organists
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Honorary Canons
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In popular culture
- The cathedral features prominently on the cover of Pink Floyd's 1994 album The Division Bell. Basil Harwood ( 11 April 1859 &ndash 3 April 1949) was an English organist and Composer. Thomas Tertius Noble ( May 5 1867 &ndash May 4 1953) was an English -born Organist and Composer, resident in Marmaduke Percy Conway 1885 - 1961, BMus, Oxford; MusD, Dublin; F Dr Arthur Wills (born 1926 was Director of Music at Ely Cathedral from 1958 to 1990 and also held a Professorship at Paul Trepte is Director of Music and an Organist at Ely Cathedral and a Composer of Classical music. Owen Robert Spencer-Thomas MBE was born on 3 March 1940 in Braughing, Hertfordshire, England. Pink Floyd are Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) The Division Bell is the final studio Album by Pink Floyd, released in 1994 (30 March in the United Kingdom and 5 April in the
- A number of John Rutter's choral albums feature the cathedral, a reference to early recordings of his music being performed and recorded in the Lady Chapel. John Milford Rutter CBE (born) is an English Composer, choral conductor, editor, Arranger and Record producer
- Direct references to Ely Cathedral appear in the children's book Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce. Tom's Midnight Garden is a children's novel by Philippa Pearce. A full-length movie with the same title was released in 1999. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar)
- A section of the film Elizabeth: The Golden Age was filmed at the Cathedral. Elizabeth The Golden Age is a 2007 film sequel to the 1998 film Elizabeth, directed by Shekhar Kapur and produced by
- Filming for The Other Boleyn Girl took place at the Cathedral in August 2007.
- Parts of the novel Floodland, by Marcus Sedgwick, take place at the Cathedral after the sea has consumed the land around it turning Ely into an island. Floodland is a children's Fantasy novel by Marcus Sedgwick, published on March 2, 2000 by Orion Children's Books Marcus Sedgwick (b 1968 was born in Kent, England. Marcus is a British author and illustrator as well as a musician Ely (, rhyming with "freely" is a Cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England.
References
- ^ For the origin of the word "tawdry", see Æthelthryth. Æthelthryth, or Æðelþryð, (c 636 - June 23 679) is the proper name for the popular Anglo-Saxon Saint almost universally
- ^ Bede, Ecclesiastical History, iv, 19. The Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (in English: Ecclesiastical History of the English People) is a work in Latin by the
- ^ Whitelock, D. , 'The Conversion of the Eastern Danelaw', in Saga-Book of the Viking Society 12, London 1941.
- ^ [1]Consumption and Pastoral Resources on the Early Medieval Estate, accessed July 12, 2007
- ^ Diocese of Ely Directory 2008
- Richard John King, Handbook to the Cathedrals of England, John Murray, Albemarle Street, Ely, 1862 (online version)
Gallery
 West Tower of Ely Cathedral, from The Gallery, 2004 |
 The tower of Ely cathedral from the North-West. John Murray (1745–1793 was the founder of a British publishing house renowned for the roster of authors it has published in its history including Jane Austen Albemarle Street is a street in Mayfair in central London, off Piccadilly. |
 Distant view of the cathedral |
 Stained glass commemorating WWII |
 Engraving of Ely Cathedral, ca. 1830. For the game see 1830 (board game. Year 1830 ( MDCCCXXX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display |
 Ely interior |
 Choir of the Ely Cathedral, looking east. ca. 1890 |
 Interior and exterior elevations. |
 Ely Cathedral and Palace Green. |
 Looking up from the main entrance of the Cathedral |
 The ornate Cathedral Stonework. |
 Mist clearing from Ely Cathedral Octagon tower. |
 Ely Cathedral and The Gallery |
 Stained glass window in the Cathedral |
 New stained glass in the link corridor to Lady Chapel |
 A colourful tomb in the Cathedral |
 The Octagon Tower (Lantern) |
 The High Altar in the Cathedral |
See also
- List of cathedrals in the United Kingdom
- Architecture of the medieval cathedrals of England
- St Etheldreda's Church
- English Gothic architecture
- Romanesque architecture
- Church of England
External links
- Ely Cathedral
- 360° interior panorama at BBC Cambridgeshire
- The Stained Glass Museum at Ely Cathedral. List of former cathedrals in the United Kingdom This article lists the Cathedrals former cathedrals and intended cathedrals in the United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies See also List of cathedrals in the United Kingdom The medieval cathedrals of England, dating from between approximately 1040 and 1540 are a group of twenty-five buildings St Etheldreda's Church is located in Ely Place, off Charterhouse Street, Holborn, London. English Gothic is the name of the Architectural style that flourished in England from about 1180 until about 1520 Regional characteristics of Romanesque architecture|Romanesque art Romanesque architecture is the term that is used to describe the architecture of Middle Ages Europe which The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican
- A history of the choristers of Ely Cathedral
- Flickr images tagged Ely Cathedral
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