Winchester Cathedral

Winchester Cathedral is one of the world'son, miracles were reported and Winchester
greatest churches, and arguably England's mostbecame a place of pilgrimage. His relics were
magnificent cathedral. Its grandeur is enhanced bymoved into the new Norman cathedral in on July
its setting in Winchester, a delightful, modest city15, 1093. Then, on the night of September 21st,
of broad streets and narrow alleys with history1538, his shrine was demolished by officers of the
written at every corner, lying in a hollow in thereformation. His remains were removed and
downs in the ancient heart of the southern Englishsubsequently lost.Building of the present day
countryside.There has been a Christian place ofcathedral began in 1079. It was built in the
worship on the site of the present cathedral forbaroque style and the cathedral's diocese once
nearly two millennia. The first recorded building ofstretched from London to The Channel Islands.
a church on this spot was recorded in about ADSubsequently, it's bishops became men of great
169 when Lucius, 'King of the Britons', convertedinfluence and wealth, none more so than William
to Christianity. This makes the site of Winchesterof Wykeham twice Chancellor of England, Founder
Cathedral far older than that of Canterbury.Theof Winchester College and New College
early church was destroyed and rebuilt severalOxford.Before the Reformation, the cathedral
times over the next few hundred years as paganwas home to Benedictine monks. You can still see
and Christian warlords fought for control over theparts of the remains of the monastic buildings in
area. But by 635, king Kynegils defeated thethe Cathedral Close. Central to the life of the
Saxon king, Cerdic, and destroyed his paganmonks was the opus dei (the Work of God), the
temple Dagon and laid the foundations on the spotregular offering of prayer, which they sang in the
were the present cathedral stands.Perhaps thequire. This tradition is still carried on today with
most famous king to patron the cathedral wassongs offered in the morning and at Evensong.
Alfred the Great. The king defeated the DanesThe choir stalls are a very magnificent affair and
and saved the southern half of England fromare truly matched by the voices of the choir.
Viking rule. After defeating the Danes, he wasIndeed, Winchester Choir is renowned throughout
crowned King of England in the cathedral andthe world for its rendering of ancient church
made Winchester his home and capital of themusic.Inside the cathedral you can visit the
ancient kingdom of Wessex.The most famousvarious chantries, built and patroned by long dead
Bishop of the cathedral must surely be St Swithin.and somewhat forgotten bishops and noble men.
He was born in Wessex and educated in the OldPerhaps the most interesting of monuments to
Minster (the original site of the present daybe found inside the cathedral is the tomb of Jane
cathedral). He was named bishop of Winchester inAusten. The English novelist was born in the
852 but apart from being remembered for hiscounty of Hampshire, living in the county most of
humility and services to the poor, little else isher life. She died in Winchester.For the visitor
known about him.He died on July 2 862 and wastoday, the cathedral offers a glimpse of the
buried at his request in the churchyard so thatpower that the great bishops and kings and
"the sweet rain of heaven may fall upon myqueens once held in England. Nowadays, the
grave".His body was to have been removed forcathedral is now quite a gentile place and is set in
reburial on July 15th 972 following his canonization,beautiful gardens. In summer many visitors and
but was delayed by violent rain, probably thecitizens picnic outside in the lovely grounds.Robin
origin of the superstition that if it rains on StO'Brien lives and works in Winchester. You can
Swithin's day we are in for 40 more wet days.find out more about Winchester Cathedral and
His remains were eventually successfully placed inbook on-line to stay in one of the many fine
a splendid shrine in the church. From that momenthotels in Winchester.