Lincoln Cathedral was established in 1072 AD when William the Conqueror ordered the bishop seat to be moved from Dorchester to Lincoln, a town in eastern England (Bowley). The site chosen for the project faced William’s castle and was only just inside the Roman walls surrounding the city (Kendrick). After two decades of construction, the cathedral was consecrated and ready for use in 1092 AD ("Lincoln Cathedral").
Lincoln, located in eastern central England, is the largest diocese of the Church of England.
After a fire, estimated to have occurred in 1141, the cathedral was restored by Alexander the Magnificent, the bishop at the time, notably adding the Romanesque frieze to the western façade (Bowley). An earthquake in 1185 resulted in damage that was repaired by bishop St. Hugh (Bowley). The lengthy reconstruction after this collapse has been compared to the Canterbury Cathedral and is suspected by some to show a rivalry between the two cathedrals (Draper).
The stone vaulted nave
In 1255, Henry III allowed part of the Roman city wall to be taken down to allow for an expansion of the cathedral and the building of the Angel Choir (Bowley). Successive construction shows three distinct buildings styles, attributed to three different master masons in the building process (Draper). Despite the differences in their style, each mason respected the work preceding their own and successfully created a cohesive effect in the construction and decoration of the cathedral (Draper).
A labelled plan of Lincoln Cathedral
(For the key referred to in the image, view the Gallery tab)
(For the key referred to in the image, view the Gallery tab)
In the 14th century, the towers were raised and completed with spires that made the Lincoln Cathedral the tallest building in the world until the collapse of the central spire in 1549 (Bowley). The remaining towers were strengthened by the addition of a narthex in 1730; still, the remaining spires were ultimately removed in 1807 for safety purposes (Bowley).
Lincoln cathedral has a long record of hosting choral music in St. Hugh’s choir, lasting over 900 years ("Lincoln Cathedral"). In 1898, the cathedral underwent a musical renovation with the installation of the Father Willis Organ ("Lincoln Cathedral"). The organ and chorus are still active today ("Lincoln Cathedral").
Above: The choristers in the cloister on a snow day
Left: The Father Willis organ |