Explore the towns of England
 

Welcome to our Oxfordshire Archive. Have fun browsing!

 

Article #221: Winchester Cathedral - England's Most Beautiful Cathedral

(Browse for more articles)

 
England has many beautiful cathedrals, bishop in 852. We do know that he died on
but in my opinion, Winchester Cathedral July 2 862 and was buried, at his
is without doubt the most beautiful. Its request, in the churchyard so that "the
scale, architecture and setting make it sweet rain of heaven may fall upon my
unrivalled. And, if that wasn't enough, grave". Later his body was removed for
the cathedral happens to be in England's reburial, which was against his dying
most preserved and picturesque city. wish. Legend has it that it rained for 40
Winchester has been a place of importance days. To this present day we have the
for over 2 millennia. After the superstition that if it rains on St
conversion to Christianity, the people of Swithin's day we are in for 40 more wet
Wessex built a place of worship on the days.
sport where the present cathedral now Building of the present day cathedral
stands. The recorded church is from about began in 1079. It was built in the
AD 169 when Lucius, 'King of the baroque style. The cathedral's diocese
Britons', converted to Christianity. He once stretched from London to The Channel
made Winchester is seat of power and the Islands. The cathedral was originally
cathedral the centre of worship for his occupied by Benedictine monks, however
people. they were removed during the Reformation;
Not much is known about the first church; you can still see parts of the remains of
it was destroyed and rebuilt several the monastic buildings in the Cathedral
times over the next few hundred years as Close.
pagan and Christian warlords fought for Central to the life of the monks was the
control over the area. This era of opus dei (the Work of God), the regular
uncertainty was finally ended in 635 when offering of prayer, which they sang in
king Kynegils defeated the Saxon king, the choir. This tradition still carries
Cerdic. The king destroyed the pagan on at the cathedral. The choir is now
temple 'Dagon' and laid the foundation comprised of boys from the Pilgrim's
stones for his Christian church. From School, which is adjacent to the
that day onwards, there as been a cathedral. The Winchester choir now
Christian place of worship on this same enjoys a world wide reputation for its
spot. music.
King Alfred the Great was probably the Many famous people have been connected
most famous patron of the cathedral. with Winchester College. Queen Mary
Alfred - after many setbacks - defeated married Philip of Spain in the cathedral.
the Danes thus preventing the southern For people nowadays, the most famous
half of England from Viking rule. Upon person associated with Winchester
his victory he was crowned King of Cathedral is Jane Austen, the novelist.
England in the cathedral and made Jane Austen was born in Hampshire and
Winchester his home and capital of the lived most of her life in the county. She
ancient kingdom of Wessex. Nothing now spent the last year of her life in
remains of Alfred's cathedral. Winchester. Her tomb is inside the
Winchester was once the ancient capital cathedral.
of England and, even after it was The power and wealth that once belonged
surpassed by London, it remained an to Winchester Cathedral is still palpable
important city. Many of the Bishop's of but today it has a gentile and tranquil
Winchester were men of importance and character to it. It still serves as a
wealth. One it's greatest bishops was place of worship for the local population
William of Wykeham. He became bishop in as well as a beautiful spot in which to
1366 and was twice Chancellor of England, picnic in its delightful gardens.
Founder of Winchester College and New Follow the links for more information
College Oxford. about Winchester Cathedral. You can also
But perhaps the most famous bishop of find out about Winchester accommodation -
Winchester was St Swithin. Not much is where you can book online - as well as
known about him except that he became things to do in Winchester.






1- A- B- C- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9- 10- 11- 12- 13- 14- 15- 16- 17- 18- 19- 20- 21- 22- 23- 24- 25- 26- 27- 28- 29- 30- 31- 32- 33- 34- 35- 36- 37- 38- 39- 40- 41- 42- 43- 44- 45- 46- 47- 48- 49- 50- 51-