| Winchester Cathedral is one of the world's | | | | shrine in the church. From that moment on, |
| greatest churches, and arguably England's most | | | | miracles were reported and Winchester became a |
| magnificent cathedral. Its grandeur is enhanced by | | | | place of pilgrimage. His relics were moved into the |
| its setting in Winchester, a delightful, modest city | | | | new Norman cathedral in on July 15, 1093. Then, |
| of broad streets and narrow alleys with history | | | | on the night of September 21st, 1538, his shrine |
| written at every corner, lying in a hollow in the | | | | was demolished by officers of the reformation. |
| downs in the ancient heart of the southern English | | | | His remains were removed and subsequently lost. |
| countryside. | | | | Building of the present day cathedral began in |
| There has been a Christian place of worship on | | | | 1079. It was built in the baroque style and the |
| the site of the present cathedral for nearly two | | | | cathedral's diocese once stretched from London |
| millennia. The first recorded building of a church on | | | | to The Channel Islands. Subsequently, it's bishops |
| this spot was recorded in about AD 169 when | | | | became men of great influence and wealth, none |
| Lucius, 'King of the Britons', converted to | | | | more so than William of Wykeham twice |
| Christianity. This makes the site of Winchester | | | | Chancellor of England, Founder of Winchester |
| Cathedral far older than that of Canterbury. | | | | College and New College Oxford. |
| The early church was destroyed and rebuilt | | | | Before the Reformation, the cathedral was home |
| several times over the next few hundred years | | | | to Benedictine monks. You can still see parts of |
| as pagan and Christian warlords fought for control | | | | the remains of the monastic buildings in the |
| over the area. But by 635, king Kynegils defeated | | | | Cathedral Close. Central to the life of the monks |
| the Saxon king, Cerdic, and destroyed his pagan | | | | was the opus dei (the Work of God), the regular |
| temple Dagon and laid the foundations on the spot | | | | offering of prayer, which they sang in the quire. |
| were the present cathedral stands. | | | | This tradition is still carried on today with songs |
| Perhaps the most famous king to patron the | | | | offered in the morning and at Evensong. The choir |
| cathedral was Alfred the Great. The king | | | | stalls are a very magnificent affair and are truly |
| defeated the Danes and saved the southern half | | | | matched by the voices of the choir. Indeed, |
| of England from Viking rule. After defeating the | | | | Winchester Choir is renowned throughout the |
| Danes, he was crowned King of England in the | | | | world for its rendering of ancient church music. |
| cathedral and made Winchester his home and | | | | Inside the cathedral you can visit the various |
| capital of the ancient kingdom of Wessex. | | | | chantries, built and patroned by long dead and |
| The most famous Bishop of the cathedral must | | | | somewhat forgotten bishops and noble men. |
| surely be St Swithin. He was born in Wessex and | | | | Perhaps the most interesting of monuments to |
| educated in the Old Minster (the original site of the | | | | be found inside the cathedral is the tomb of Jane |
| present day cathedral). He was named bishop of | | | | Austen. The English novelist was born in the |
| Winchester in 852 but apart from being | | | | county of Hampshire, living in the county most of |
| remembered for his humility and services to the | | | | her life. She died in Winchester. |
| poor, little else is known about him. | | | | For the visitor today, the cathedral offers a |
| He died on July 2 862 and was buried at his | | | | glimpse of the power that the great bishops and |
| request in the churchyard so that "the sweet rain | | | | kings and queens once held in England. Nowadays, |
| of heaven may fall upon my grave". | | | | the cathedral is now quite a gentile place and is |
| His body was to have been removed for reburial | | | | set in beautiful gardens. In summer many visitors |
| on July 15th 972 following his canonization, but | | | | and citizens picnic outside in the lovely grounds. |
| was delayed by violent rain, probably the origin of | | | | Robin O'Brien lives and works in Winchester. You |
| the superstition that if it rains on St Swithin's day | | | | can find out more about Winchester Cathedral |
| we are in for 40 more wet days. His remains | | | | and book on-line to stay in one of the many fine |
| were eventually successfully placed in a splendid | | | | hotels in Winchester. |