Cathedrals

Our older cathedrals are eloquent testimony to the dominant place of the Church in British society during the Middle Ages and up to the Reformation in the 16th century. These structures were built to impress as well as glorify God, at enormous cost in money, effort and lives. Dominating their surroundings physically and culturally, no visit to Britain’s cities is complete without an hour or two exploring its cathedral.

Exceptional British cathedrals

The glories of Britain's cathedrals are so great that to single out just a few for special mention risks an injustice - so the following are just a taster:

Winchester Cathedral

Winchester has been a place of Christian worship and pilgrimage for over a thousand years and the cathedral (www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/) is one of the largest medieval churches in the world. The Winchester Bible is the best example of a 12th-century bible in the country.

St Paul's Cathedral, London

St Paul's (www.stpauls.co.uk) in the City of London is a Renaissance masterpiece, built by the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren to replace the church destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. St Paul's also stands at the heart of one of the richest concentrations of historic churches (www.london-city-churches.org.uk/) in the world.

Lincoln Cathedral

Taller than the Egyptian Pyramids, the imposing medieval cathedral (www.lincolncathedral.com/) in Lincoln has recently starred in The Da Vinci Code movie. Don't miss the famous Lincoln Imp, said to have been sent by the devil to earth to cause trouble and turned to stone by an angel.

Liverpool Cathedral

The city's skyline is dominated by two imposing cathedrals. Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral (www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk/) is the largest cathedral in Britain and the fifth largest in the world. The Roman Catholic Cathedral (www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk/), built 1962-67 to a futuristic design by Frederick Gibberd, has become a Liverpool landmark.

York Minster

York Minster (www.yorkminster.org/) is one of the great cathedrals of England, dominating the neighbouring streets of medieval York. The city already had its own bishop by the year 314, making this one of the earliest Christian sites in England.

Durham Cathedral

Durham was described by Bill Bryson as 'a perfect little city' and its cathedral (www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/) is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. And just behind the cathedral you’ll find World Heritage Site, Durham Castle.

St Magnus Cathedral

St Magnus (www.orkney.org/tradition/magcath.htm) towers over the town of Kirkwall - a cathedral city of just 7,000 people in the Orkney Islands and is the most northerly cathedral of Britain. Dating back to 1137, the use of different coloured stones to form patterns is evidence of Viking culture and it is the only cathedral in Britain with a dungeon! 

St David's Cathedral, Dyfed

Dating back to the 6th century St David's Cathedral (www.stdavidscathedral.org.uk/) in Dyfed, Wales, was once a monastery and, during the Middle Ages, a popular pilgrimage site - two trips here were worth one trip to Rome! The nave is finished with a rich, coffered ceiling of painted oak. The delicate purple sandstone gives St David's a unique character.

Greek Orthodox Cathedral, London

Finally, the magnificent Greek Orthodox Cathedral (www.stsophia.org.uk/) of the Divine Wisdom (Aghia Sophia) on Moscow Road in London was built in 1877 and is the only purpose-built Greek Cathedral in the UK.

For a round-up of the Cathedrals of Britain visit the Pilgrims Association (www.cathedralsplus.org.uk/) website.