Ripon Cathedral has been a place of Christian worship from the C7th, when a Benedictine Monastery was founded here. Wilfrid became abbot on his return from Rome and built a new Minster church in 672 AD. Wilfrid was a force to be reckoned with and was instrumental in the decision taken at the Synod of Whitby to adopt the Roman form of Christianity rather than the Celtic. He died in 710AD and was buried near the high altar. His shrine was destroyed during the Reformation.
Wilfrid’s church was destroyed by the Danes in the C10th and only the crypt survived. A new Minster was built but was destroyed by William the Conquer during the Harrying of the North. The present building dates from the C12th. The west end was completed by 1220 and is a good example of the early English Decorated style. The central tower collapsed in 1450 resulting in a lot of damage to the nave, although the transepts escaped. The nave was substantially rebuilt in the Perpendicular style. The clerestory and side aisles were added then.
The cathedral is a splendid building with its twin towered west front with its tall lancet windows providing a striking contrast to the east end with its huge window and buttressed wall turrets. The central tower is quite squat.
Entry is through the west door. Inside it is a glorious building with tall multiple pillars soaring up to pointed arches with a walkway above and the plain glass clerestory windows flooding the nave with light.
The crossing arch is still the Norman round arch.
Across the base is a medieval stone screen, a pulpitum, with painted figures of Kings of England and bishops set in elaborate pinnacles arches. Above are tiny painted statues of angels playing musical instruments.
The beautifully carved medieval floor standing pulpit next to the screen may originally have been placed on top of the screen. Now the organ is above it.
The very elaborate Arts and Crafts movement pulpit dating from 1913 is attached to a pillar in the nave. Standing on green marble legs, the body of the pulpit is covered in bronze. The small figures are the Anglo Saxon saints of Chad, Cuthbert, Hilda and Elthelreda.
In the north transept are the Markenfield tombs. The earliest is in fact the better preserved and shows Sir Thomas in a suit of armour. He died in 1398.
The second tomb against the north wall has the effigy of his descendant, another Sir Thomas, who died in 1497. He is lying above a beautifully carved chest with shields round the base.
cont...
Wilfrid’s church was destroyed by the Danes in the C10th and only the crypt survived. A new Minster was built but was destroyed by William the Conquer during the Harrying of the North. The present building dates from the C12th. The west end was completed by 1220 and is a good example of the early English Decorated style. The central tower collapsed in 1450 resulting in a lot of damage to the nave, although the transepts escaped. The nave was substantially rebuilt in the Perpendicular style. The clerestory and side aisles were added then.
The cathedral is a splendid building with its twin towered west front with its tall lancet windows providing a striking contrast to the east end with its huge window and buttressed wall turrets. The central tower is quite squat.
Entry is through the west door. Inside it is a glorious building with tall multiple pillars soaring up to pointed arches with a walkway above and the plain glass clerestory windows flooding the nave with light.
The crossing arch is still the Norman round arch.
Across the base is a medieval stone screen, a pulpitum, with painted figures of Kings of England and bishops set in elaborate pinnacles arches. Above are tiny painted statues of angels playing musical instruments.
The beautifully carved medieval floor standing pulpit next to the screen may originally have been placed on top of the screen. Now the organ is above it.
The very elaborate Arts and Crafts movement pulpit dating from 1913 is attached to a pillar in the nave. Standing on green marble legs, the body of the pulpit is covered in bronze. The small figures are the Anglo Saxon saints of Chad, Cuthbert, Hilda and Elthelreda.
In the north transept are the Markenfield tombs. The earliest is in fact the better preserved and shows Sir Thomas in a suit of armour. He died in 1398.
The second tomb against the north wall has the effigy of his descendant, another Sir Thomas, who died in 1497. He is lying above a beautifully carved chest with shields round the base.
cont...