Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral began life as a Benedictine Priory in 678AD though the present church dates from 1072. Threatened with ruin by Henry VIII of England the Abbey was dissolved in 1540 and became seat of the Bishop of Gloucester in 1541. Historically the cathedral is also important as the resting place of King Edward II of England who was murdered at nearby Berkley Castle in 1327. His defeat at Bannockburn in 1314 by King Robert I of Scots re-asserted Scottish Independence after 24 years of interference begun by Edward I of England on the death of Queen Margaret of Scots, "Maid of Norway", in 1290. Scotland remained an independent kingdom until its voluntary union with England in 1707 thereby creating the Kingdom of Great Britain, the forerunner of the current United Kingdom.
Architecturally the church was begun in the Norman style, still evident in the Nave, and shows development to the Gothic Perpendicular in the choir and all variations of Gothic architecture are represented. The cloisters are a very early example of Gothic Fan Vaulted ceilings and the crypt is one of only four apsidal crypts in England, the others being Worcester, Winchester and Canterbury. Much of the cathedral was restored by George Gilbert Scott between 1873 and 1890, and Harry Potter fans may recognise it from the movies - it featured in several of them.
Along with Worcester and Hereford Cathedrals the church houses the "Three Choirs Festival", rotated annually among the venues.
You can visit the official cathedral site here.
Click on an image to enlarge - please note copyright applies. Pictures by Stephen McIlveney
The Cathedral from the cloisters
The Cloisters
The Sanctuary
The Choir of the Cathedral
The Choir of the Cathedral
Choir and Organ
The magnificent ceiling
The North Ambulatory
Stained Glass
