church_of_england cathedral mother church diocese chester located city cathedral abbey church monastery dedicated dedicated christ seat cathedral grade listed building heritage site includes monastic buildings north listed cathedral typical english having modified times dates early 16th century site christian worship roman times major styles english medieval architecture norman perpendicular represented present building cathedral monastic buildings extensively restored 19th century amidst controversy free standing bell tower added 20th century buildings major tourist attraction chester addition holding services christian worship cathedral venue concerts exhibitions history city chester important roman stronghold christian site present cathedral late roman era chester controlled legend holds dedicated supported evidence saxon times dedication early chapel site changed dark ages saint feast day september known history mainly occurs library oxford 10th century remains brought chester shrine placed church thought turned church college secular given charter collegiate church restored earl church razed ground secular evicted known trace remains abbey established site earl chester assistance monks normandy earliest surviving parts structure date time abbey church time cathedral chester cathedral diocese nearby church transferred dissolution monasteries monastery disbanded shrine abbey cathedral church_of_england order henry_viii time dedication changed christ abbot abbey dean new cathedral head secular chapter little trace 10th century church discovered save possibly saxon masonry found excavation nave evidence monastery work norman style seen northwest tower north remaining parts monastic buildings abbey church beginning lady chapel eastern end extensively rebuilt gothic style 13th 14th centuries time dissolution monasteries central tower new south large west window new entrance porch south built perpendicular style southwest tower façade begun west given tudor entrance tower completed space beneath south west tower bishop court furnished time unique survival england hearing case attempted suicide priest 1930s south unusually large took separate function independent ecclesiastical entity parish church 17th century saw additions fittings building work centuries 19th century building badly need restoration present appearance cathedral presents exterior angles largely work victorian particularly 20th century seen continued maintenance restoration chester war memorial installed cathedral grounds dedicated fallen soldiers world war later second world war detached designed erected grounds cathedral new added cathedral 2000s cathedral library refurbished relocated officially reopened september cathedral monastic buildings designated grade listed buildings july architecture cathedral plan east west axis common chancel eastern end façade west plan central tower usual english monastic churches having small north remaining earlier building unusually large south plan shows extends west north tower remains norman building south tower early 16th century eastern end symmetrical arrangement lost end south aisle demolished rebuilt shape nave choir south wide lit windows large multi light windows cliff like ends north cathedral monastic buildings including rectangular chapter house façade building north later buildings external appearance like worcester built case stone detailed carving easily eroded rain wind badly affected pollution red sandstone buildings chester heavily restored england restoration included new details took place mainly 19th century south similar dimension nave choir views building south east south west impression building balanced central axis tower hub tower late 15th century perpendicular style large turrets work restoration architect rhythmic arrangement large windows buttresses exterior south presents fairly character unusual feature england general noted stylistic diversity close examination reveals window building stages 13th early 16th century 13th century presence ornate windows perpendicular windows simpler form façade cathedral dominated large deeply light window perpendicular style doorway set screen like porch designed probably early porch formed late 15th century building programme south central southwest towers west towers completed north lower stage norman tower south lower stage tower designed begun probably left incomplete following dissolution monastery cathedral façade north victorian building housing education centre largely obscured view building previously branch door west normal entrance cathedral southwest porch ornate tudor style interior interior gives warm mellow appearance pinkish colour sandstone proportions appear view west end nave east end nave long wide high compared england piers nave choir widely spaced nave carrying large windows gallery proportions possible partly ornate stellar vault like york wood stone norman remnants present building dating replaced earlier monastic church founded built norman style believed newer church built older remaining parts norman church small proportions height width gothic church generous confirm belief aspects design norman interior visible north retains wall broadly arch leading chapel retained early 16th century ceiling decorated bosses carved arms henry_viii north west tower norman construction serves houses black marble font consisting bowl large dating lower north wall nave norman building viewed interior decorated mosaic early english early english gothic chapter house built rectangular opens charming leading north chapter house grouped windows simple form describes exterior building modest elegant example composition says interior wonderfully noble room aesthetic climax cathedral north chapter house early english style warming room contains large monastic north date chapter house lady chapel eastern end choir dates bays contains shrine dating 14th century vault lady chapel cathedral stone decorated carved roof bosses representing trinity madonna child murder chapel choir bays built design early example architecture piers strongly modelled attached shafts supporting deeply arches gallery arches bay vault 19th century restoration supported clusters shafts spring energetic overall effect robust contrasts choir stalls windows rich decoration vault carried ecclesiastical designers bell choir stalls dating cathedral choir previously extended lady chapel south aisle shortened given east end chapel eastern end north aisle contains chapel nave bays large south begun probably design number windows containing fine flowing decorated period work ceased year severe outbreak plague england building nave years begun architect probably remarkably english medieval architect maintained original form changing details nave stellar vault like lady chapel choir date like york vault wood imitating stone perpendicular gothic architect appears succeeded completed south design seen windows built central tower southwest porch work commenced south west tower risen time dissolution monasteries completed central tower rising feet tower large windows letting light crossing external appearance altered addition turrets 19th century monastic buildings perpendicular gothic entered cathedral norman doorway north aisle building programme commenced probably work south wall dating later norman period forms north wall nave cathedral includes blind earliest remaining structures site west range dates early 12th century originally monks storing food consists groin short round piers round capitals leading south abbot passage dates consists bays rib abbot passage approached west chapel dates 12th century bays 19th century gothic style plaster vault chancel bay early 17th century screen altar rails holy table plaster ceiling chancel date 17th century north range gives access built 13th century contains early english pulpit approached staircase ascending arcade similar pulpit england abbey restoration 19th century fabric building badly writing surface red sandstone cathedral built positively place previous restoration struck neglected verge collapse trace romance average ruin architect restored south adding corner turrets building served parish church separate carried limited restoration including work south nave extensive restoration carried gothic revival architect entirely cathedral current building acknowledged mainly product victorian restoration commissioned dean addition extensive additions alterations body church scott tower adding turrets scott chose sandstone restoration work addition restoration fabric building scott designed internal fittings choir screen replace destroyed civil war built fan vault south porch renewed wooden vault choir added great decorative features interior scott critics caused debate architectural circles scott claimed archaeological evidence work liverpool architect argued address alterations like restoration like rebuilding larger changes south aisle changes proposed addition existing tower proposal later rejected samuel paper entitled called cathedral abbey churches compelled dean attempt answer criticism debate contributed establishment later century son charles additions modifications including restoring shrine work carried 20th century bell tower end cathedral bells housed central tower need overhaul ringing suspended dean asked architect prepare specifications new bell frame electrification clock mechanism structural difficulties cost replacing bells central tower advised consideration given building detached bell clock tower southeast corner churchyard decided proceed plan announcement detached cathedral bell tower erected building 15th century february bells central tower removed recast ring bells flat sixth new bells cast work new bell tower began february old bells dating left tower february bells time celebrate wedding member family official opening june performed duke gloucester known dean cathedral responsible construction tower built concrete faced sandstone base detached bell tower built cathedral country reformation bell tower south garden remembrance regiment originally 22nd regiment foot fittings glass treasures rare fittings specifically choir stalls 17th century bishop court south tower unique survival choir stalls choir stalls date high closely set arches stall ends rich carving stalls include original depicting variety subjects humorous states finest sets country calls exquisite says grace surpass lincoln organ organ london installed cathedral replacing instrument parts dating organ rebuilt enlarged chester include later moved present position north son london extensively rebuilt organ replacing new pipes choir division organ enlarged moved south instrument overhauled new mechanism new design installed organ care liverpool stained glass gallery chester suffered badly hands parliamentary troops consequence stained glass dates mainly 19th 20th centuries representative examples significant trends stained glass design 1850s onwards earlier victorian firms best represented south aisle glass high victorian period represented leading london firms bell butler aesthetic style represented early 20th century windows include commemorating died world war notable modern windows recent window depicts creation light perpendicular window west end contains mid-20th century glass representing modern windows south aisle designed replace windows damaged second world war donated 6th duke westminster celebrate anniversary cathedral contain dates reflect theme continuity change tour features nave west end nave dominated light window perpendicular gothic style fills upper west wall contains stained glass designed dating depicts holy family middle lights flanked northern saints stone nave pulpit designed dated mosaic floor tower bay designed executed firm installed wall north aisle depicting moses david designed bell date monuments nave include dated dated died dated john died respectively died died sir dated choir famous feature choir set choir stalls dating described form wooden eagle symbol john dates half 17th century date 17th century died exceptions decoration fittings choir date 19th century keeping gothic revival promoted restored vault choir typical period having designed scott decorated bell choir entered screen designed gates designed scott bishop throne designed scott complement choir stalls constructed farmer floor mosaic date designed east window elegant design filled stained glass butler 13th century contains stone shrine dates 14th century contain relics shrine similar red sandstone cathedral base pierced deep upper takes form miniature chapel containing dissolution monasteries dismantled parts found restoration cathedral shrine carving added chapel stained glass chapel contains monument francis dating martyr stood trial accused north choir aisle north choir aisle stone screen iron gate dated came east end aisle chapel vault bays east window depicting dated stained glass windows north aisle butler bell chapel contains dating 14th century monuments dated died monuments north aisle include tablet dated design north chapter house small norman windows containing stained glass installed east window depicting designed north monument died designed carved monuments include dating wall monuments include members earl chester killed boer war second world wars corner north aisle 17th century tree carved whale ivory niche contains rare example picture painted web originating depicts mary christ child based painting chapter house stained glass east window butler windows north south walls dated contains oak cope late 13th century chapter house rebuilt design south choir aisle south aisle shortened scott given east end chapel stained glass window dated bell mosaic designed painting bell dated stained glass aisle design aisle contains tomb monk abbey 12th century wrote major work history entitled monument civil engineering contractor died designed monument died painted monuments member family south south parish church contains south wall east wall designed successor south window dated butler design stained glass bell monuments include died died died duke westminster designed memorial plaques members family wall southwest crossing pier monuments include casualties included year old west wall south memorials including royal_air_force restored 20th century stained glass windows contain images saints contains modern sculpture entitled water life roof dated designed east window designed dated stained glass west window depicting creation designed installed celebrate millennium west wall depicting struck woven 17th century cartoon paintings north wall represent arms chester library library present time abbey following dissolution monasteries cathedral library continued grow centuries 19th century neglected enlarged 1890s new added reorganisation took place 1920s 1980s contents contained separate sites cathedral programme repair contents instituted 2000s work carried refurbished library housed rooms opened library available research organised visits groups ministry chapter dean september installation vice dean canon september installation canon september installation canon chancellor canon librarian canon september installation time canon services cathedral place christian worship services held daily sunday holy communion day choral day wednesday music director music assistant director music assisted assistant organ weekly thursday monthly program music available cathedral website hymn writer canon chester earliest recorded appointment notable include composers conductor recording artist choral tradition chester years old dating foundation monastery heard chester usually choral services cathedral week chester cathedral choir male lay choral scholars boy girl built site monks dormitory addition singing services choir perform concerts tour abroad recording cds choir school chester come local schools mixed choir adults sings sunday evenings services choir takes concerts tours having founded 1860s longest running voluntary cathedral choir britain activities apart services variety events concerts exhibitions tours held cathedral weekly organ thursday concerts cathedral open visits individuals groups abbey café hired meetings purposes hugh 1st earl chester july cemetery chapter house 3rd earl 6th earl chester bishop bishop bishop cemetery colonial governor new_york america wealthy landowner new_york america loyal forced quit estates gallery
Chester Cathedral