Canterbury
Cathedral
When the earlier Anglo Saxon episcopal church burned down in 1067, the
first Norman archbishop, Lanfranc (1070-77), built a replacement modeled
on the Abbey of St Etienne in his home town of Caen. Lanfranc's cathedral
quickly proved too small and St Anselm (Archbishop from 1093-1109)
embarked upon the enlargement of the choir. This work continued under
Priors Ernulf and Conrad, the new church being finally consecrated in
1130.
Less than 50 years later, in 1174, it too was severely damaged by fire,
rebuilding commencing in the hands of the French master mason Guillaume de
Sens. His soaring three bay arrangement with pointed arches marked the
introduction from France into England of the Early Gothic style; his
double transept moreover became a distinctive feature of the English
Gothic cathedral. When
in 1178 an accident made it impossible for the French William to continue,
William the Englishman took over the reins, completing the choir - very
much as seen today - in 1184.
At the end of the 14th century the Norman nave was pulled down, being
rebuilt (1405) by the royal architect Henry Yevele in the High Gothic
style.
Replacement of the west transepts followed, completed in 1468, during
which time, in 1434, the west facade also acquired its southwest tower (the
old northwest tower, built by Lanfranc, was replaced by a copy of the
southwest tower in 1832).
Finally, in 1502, the tall, Late Gothic central tower was erected over the
crossing, crowning the unusually proportioned cathedral with its extended
choir.
The precincts are normally entered through Christ Church Gate, a
Perpendicular gatehouse (1517) with a Baroque oak doorway (ca. 1660).
To appreciate the overall dimensions of the cathedral it is best to begin
by walking the whole length of the building, its scale being easily lost
sight of once inside the labyrinthine interior. At the same time the
various different architectural phases and peculiarities of style can most
readily be identified, from the Romanesque (the Norman apses and groined
arches, the 12th century staircase tower of the southeast transept) to the
Late Gothic (the nave with its characteristic tracery and buttresses, and
the tall central tower).
St Martin's Church
Situated outside the city center, beyond St Augustine's Abbey, St Martin's
Church, the "mother church of England", is one of the oldest surviving
English churches, believed to have been built originally for Queen Bertha.
Numerous Roman bricks are incorporated into the Anglo Saxon choir. Inside
there is a Norman font.
St Michael's Chapel
In the southwest transept of Canterbury Cathedral the lovely south window
has late 12th century stained glass which originally graced the choir. St
Michael's Chapel adjoining has very fine tombs (15th-17th century) with
reclining effigies, including those of Lady Margaret Holland (1437) with
the Earl of Somerset and Duke of Clarence at her side, and Thomas
Thornhurst (1627).
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Canterbury
Cathedral
When
in 1178 an accident made it impossible for the French William to continue,
William the Englishman took over the reins, completing the choir - very
much as seen today - in 1184.
