Norwich Cathedral

History

Norwich Cathedral has stood for over 900 years as an icon of christianity in East Anglia since its foundation in 1096 by the Norman Bishop Herbert de Losinga. Bishop Losinga purchased the Diocese of East Anglia in 1091 from the Norman King William II - a sin called simony - Pope Urban II ordered Herbert to build a new Cathedral as an act of penance. Herbert never saw the Cathedral finished as he died in 1119 and it was left to his successor, Eborardus, to complete the work in c1140.
The Cathedral has withstood fire, riot, plague and much turmoil to survive as the most complete Romanesque Cathedral in England. Most notably in the year 1272 the citizens of Norwich ransacked the Cathedral and attached Monastery in anger at tithes and supposed abuse of priviledges by Prior and Monks.
The Cathedral and City were often at loggerheads over landduring the Middle Ages and citizens again attacked the Cathedral during ‘Gladman’s Insurrection’ in 1443 and again in 1643 when a group of Puritans pillaged the Cathedral of the trappings of ritualism and burned the vestments, organ pipes and books on a bonfire in the market place.
History has been quiet since then and the Cathedral now exists in the calm, riverside oasis of England’s largest Cathedral Close.

 

Architecture

Romanesque arcading runs from east to west emphasising the solid Norman austerity of the building and its status as one of the most complete major Norman structures in Europe.
Highlights in the Cathedral architecture include a fine lierne vault in the Nave, added after a major fire in 1463, which is filled with unique decorative bosses which tell the entire story of the Bible. The beauty of the apsidal east end is complimented by a graceful Bisops Throne which sits above the base of the Trone of Saint Felix and the flying buttresses which ring the presytery like a crown. Norwich has England’s largest extant monastic Cloister which is also the only surviving example in the UK which is adorned with four walks of roof bosses telling scriptiral and secular stories.
The most iconic feaure of the Cathedral is the graceful stone spire (the second tallest in England) which was completed in 1480.
Overall the Cathedral is one of the finest examples of the earliest medieval architecture crowned with perpendicular additions which lend seamlessly creating one of the finest sacred spaces in Europe.

Attractions

The building remains a place of quiet reflection and prayer as well as for participation in daily worship or the rich pageantry of the Church’s festivals. Both the boy’s and girl’s choir are world renowned and lead worship day by day. A full range of tradition is represented from 1662 Evensong daily to Choral Eucharist on Sunday Mornings to High Mass on Saints days and Solemn Benediction on the feast of Corpus Christi.
Tours are available at 10.45, 12.30 and 2.15 daily or by prior arrangement with the Visitor Officer.
The gift shop is located in the Nave and offers a wide variety of souvenirs and books.
The Cathedral Refectory (restaurant) was opened in 2004 and sits alongside the Cloister. A range of drinks, pastries and lunches are available from this highly modern yet sympathetic buildig which has won numerous design awards since opening.
Admission is by donation.