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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

@yorkminster.bsky.social: Northern Europe's second-largest Gothic cathedral was built between 1230 & 1472 with various sections demolished and rebuilt as fashions changed. Our stained glass tour was fascinating, revealing C12 glass and whimsical medieval design details.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

External landscape view of York
Minster on a sunny day, seen from the city walls

Portrait view of the Minster interior including the lantern/central tower, north transept window, the organ, and stone screen of carved figures

Wide-angle landscape view of the Chapter House ceiling at York Minster, which is octagonal with stained glass windows rising to meet at a painted stone centre

Medieval stained glass depiction of figures around a shrine, with golden and white details

December 24, 2024 at 8:58 PM Everybody can reply

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

BONUS @worcestercathedral.bsky.social: a few highlights from a library tour in 2023:

1: C12 manuscript depicting King David
2: Elephant from C13 translation of a commentary on Aristotle's 'Metaphysics'
3: O Antiphons, C13 Worcester Antiphoner
4: C15 German book of hours

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Portrait: neat Latin text in a book, with two decorated large letters to the left (primarily gilded and with blue ink) showing King David playing different instruments including a harp. Below these are five lines of large Latin letters in alternating red and blue, surrounded by swirls.

Portrait: Latin text in a book, with marginalia of an elephant-like creature drawn in red. It has tusks, trotters and a short trunk.

Portrait: age of early sheet music in a book, with red stave lines and small black notes. Each O Antiphon (Latin Advent chants) has its own line and starts with a decorative large 'O' (these alternate betwen red and blue).

Portrait: hand holding open a small book with Latin text in brown and red and a decorative 'D', bordered with colourful drawings of roses and other flowers

December 23, 2024 at 11:33 PM Everybody can reply

1 reposts 7 likes

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

@worcestercathedral.bsky.social: the current cathedral was built between 1084 & 1504. Its crypt dates to the time of Bishop Wulfstan, the last surviving bishop from before the Norman Conquest. The cathedral houses the tombs of Prince Arthur (son of Henry VII) & King John.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Portrait: The east end of Worcester Cathedral: King John's tomb and the stone high altar (with Christ flanked by the Gospel writers), and beyond them the narrow, arched windows of the Lady Chapel

Portrait: The stone chantry chapel and tomb of Prince Arthur (d. 1502) at Worcester Cathedral

Portrait: Large Victorian stained glass west window at Worcester
Cathedral, showing creation scenes (including a pink giraffe!) in vibrant colours

Portrait: The tower of Worcester
Cathedral with a partially blue sky beyond, and trees in front

December 23, 2024 at 11:26 PM Everybody can reply

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

@wincathedral.bsky.social is the longest medieval cathedral in Europe. The current building dates from 1079 - 1532; the original Old Minster was built from c. 648. Its treasures include a Tournai "marble" font and the illustrated C12 Winchester Bible.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Portrait: exterior photo of the square tower and the north transept of Winchester Cathedral on a sunny day, with bluebells in focus in the foreground

Portrait: one side of the 12th century font, made of Tournai "marble" (blue-black limestone), with carvings depicting scenes from the life of St Nicholas

Portrait: south transept of the cathedral, showing the upper two levels (of three) of Norman arches, and painted wooden ceiling panels above

Portrait: detail of the reredos (ornamental stone screen behind the altar), with sunlight on a statue of Mary watching Jesus' crucifixion

December 22, 2024 at 11:41 PM Everybody can reply

1 reposts 3 likes

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

@wellscathedral.bsky.social: dedicated to St Andrew, the current cathedral was consecrated in 1239. Features include the distinctive "scissor arches"; the steps leading to the chapter house; a working C14 astronomical clock; and the Early English Gothic west front.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Portrait view of the West front of Wells Cathedral, with a bright blue sky behind

The front has two stone towers and features dozens of statues including angels, bishops and the apostles

Portrait view, taken from triforium level, of the distinctive "scissor arches" of the cathedral, with a stained glass window and the organ seen through these; above is the ceiling, white but painted with red and green patterns

Portrait view of an art installation of colourful butterflies suspended around the Chapter House,with the delicately vaulted ceiling seen above, and light pouring from large windows onto the stone floor

Portrait view of internal stone
buttressing at triforium level of the cathedral, with the buttresses casting shadows on the grey stone, producing a striped effect

December 21, 2024 at 10:53 PM Everybody can reply

1 reposts 6 likes

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

@southwellminster.bsky.social's chapter house contains the minster's famous leaves, plus carvings of green men, dragons and other features. The leaves (late C13) are botanically accurate and show species including hawthorn, ivy, oak and maple.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Landscape: exterior shot of the
minster, with the chapter house
(far left), main tower (centre),
and the two west towers (right)
with their distinctive pyramidal
spires

Portrait: entrance to the chapter
house, with carved stone leaves
lining the doorway

Portrait: detail of carved stone
leaves on one of the columns in
the chapter house, with more
carved stonework blurred in the
background

Portrait: Victorian carving in the
oak choir stalls of a fern with its
fronds unfurling

December 20, 2024 at 10:43 PM Everybody can reply

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

Day 19 brings us to @southwarkcathedral.bsky.social!

The church only gained cathedral status in 1905, but the (former) Augustinian priory was built between 1106 and 1538. It's also home to Hodge the cat, whom I hope to meet one day!

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

16th century altar screen at
Southwark Cathedral, with
saints and angels carved in
stone and Christ, in gold, at the
centre

Portrait view of the nave of
Southwark Cathedral with
its elegant columns and the
colourful west window at the
end; a chandelier is near the top
of the shot

Portrait view of the arched
ceiling of Southwark
Cathedral's nave, and
supporting columns and south
aisle

Honey-coloured stone tower
of Southwark Cathedral, with a
bright blue sky beyond

December 19, 2024 at 10:39 PM Everybody can reply

6 likes

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

BONUS @salisburycathedral.bsky.social post, from my tower tour in April 2022. It was a fascinating visit (and on a gorgeous day), but I didn't appreciate getting partway up the tower then being informed that the cathedral's foundations are only 4ft deep! Eeeek!

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Portrait view of Salisbury
Cathedral nave, looking east;
taken from triforium (first floor) level it looks down on the floor of the cathedral, and up at arches and the elegant ceiling

Portrait view of medieval oak
timbers in the nave roofspace
at Salisbry Cathedral

Portrait view looking up
at the wooden medieval scaffolding criss-crossed inside the spire at Salisbury Cathedral

Portrait view of the green at Salisbury Cathedral and the town beyond on a sunny day; the cathedral's spire casts a long shadow

December 18, 2024 at 7:53 PM Everybody can reply

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

@salisburycathedral.bsky.social is unique amongst the English medieval cathedrals in that it demonstrates stylistic unity, being built entirely in the Early English style. Following the move from Old Sarum Cathedral, the new building's foundation stones were laid in 1220.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Portrait view of the spire at
Salisbury Cathedral (full height).
sunlit and with a blue sky
behind featuring a crescent
moon

Portrait view of the high altar at
Salisbury Cathedral, with two
levels of carved arches above;
in a chapel beyond the altar a
deep blue stained glass window
is visible

Landscape view of four stained glass windows in the Chapter House, with mostly red and blue decoration

Landscape view of the cloister
garth (garden) at Salisbury
Cathedral, with its elegantly
carved arches; a cedar tree is on
the left

December 18, 2024 at 7:42 PM Everybody can reply

8 likes

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

@stalbanscathedral.bsky.social: the current building (built from 1077) is on the oldest site of continual Christian worship in Britain. It also has the longest nave of the English cathedrals, and is largely constructed from bricks salvaged from a former Roman town.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

External portrait view of the
north transept of St Albans
Cathedral, framed by trees, with
the distinctive outline of the
modern rose window

Portrait view of the ornately
carved stone reredos at St
Albans Cathedral, and the
painted wooden medieval
ceiling above

Very well-preserved medieval
wall painting of a bishop.
with red clothes and a green
background

Portrait view of medieval
wall paintings (including a
crucifixion scene) in one of
the nave arches at St Albans
Cathedral, and a view of the
arches opposite (to the right of
the frame)

December 17, 2024 at 7:37 PM Everybody can reply

2 reposts 17 likes

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Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

@cccdublin.bsky.social

Advent Hope in Dublin & Glendalough – Activities at Christ Church, A Snapshot:

dublin.anglican.org/news/2024/12...
#AdventCathedralling

Advent Hope in D&G – Activities at Christ Church, A Snapshot

In our continuing Advent series, Dean Dermot Dunne takes us through developments in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.

dublin.anglican.org

December 17, 2024 at 4:12 PM Everybody can reply

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

@rochestercathedral.bsky.social was founded in 604, making it the second-oldest of England's cathedrals.

My visit in June 2022 featured sunshine, Luke Jerram's 'Gaia' and, (thanks to the lovely @canongordon.bsky.social), out-of-hours access and a mini tour!

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Portrait view of yellow roses in
front of the tower at Rochester
Cathedral on a sunny day

Portrait view of Luke Jerram's
"Gaia" installation (giant
inflatable earth, suspended
from the ceiling) at Rochester
Cathedral, facing eastwards
with stone statues and steps
towards the quire behind

Portrait: elaborate stone doorway, c. 1340, with a wooden door below open, showing a glimpse of the cathedral's Chapter Library inside

Unusually well-preserved 13th
century "Wheel of Fortune" wall
painting at Rochester Cathedral

December 16, 2024 at 7:24 PM Everybody can reply

2 reposts 12 likes

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

Ripon Cathedral: the current church is the fourth on the site. The old (C7) church built by St Wilfrid was one of England's first stone churches; the crypt chapel remains beneath the present building. The quire has 34 misericords, all from the late C15.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Exterior shot of the west end of Ripon Cathedral (with two stonetowers) on an overcast day

Rood screen at Ripon Cathedral, with eight painted large stone figures (kings and clergy), and a row of small painted statues above; a curved doorway leads into the quire

Portrait photo of a medieval
stained glass window with three
columns, each containing six
colourful Bible scenes in circles/
shields

Misericord (wooden carving on
the underside of a quire stall)
depicting a mermaid with a
hairbrush and mirror

December 15, 2024 at 2:20 PM Everybody can reply

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

Peterborough Cathedral is dedicated to Saints Peter, Paul and Andrew. Work on the current building began in 1118, though the original monastery on the site was founded in 655. The nave's famous painted ceiling dates from 1230-50.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Portrait: view (at triforium level)
of Peterborough Cathedral, with the high altar in the foreground,
looking west towards the quire and nave

Landscape: aerial view of the
quire and high altar, seen from
the central crossing tower
framed by its arches

Portrait: west front of Peterborough Cathedral on a foggy day

Square photo of the central
crossing tower at Peterborough
Cathedral, framed by wooden
ceilings in various designs
(some painted) above the nave,
quire and transepts

December 15, 2024 at 2:18 PM Everybody can reply

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford is both the city's cathedral, and the chapel of Christ Church College in the University. It contains the shrine of St Frideswide (patron saint of Oxford), and stained glass by Pre-Raphaelite Edward Burne-Jones.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Portrait: honey-coloured
crossing tower and spire of
the cathedral, seen from the
cloister garth

Portrait: wooden carving among
the choir stalls of an angel
playing a stringed musical
instrument

The high altar, rose window
and vaulted ceiling are visible,
blurred, in the background

Portrait: stone shrine of St
Frideswide, with a colourful
stained glass window by
Edward Burne-Jones behind
and a stand of votive candles to
the right

Portrait: Victorian stained
glass window in the cathedral
depicting the archangel Michael
leading angels in battle against
the devil

December 14, 2024 at 11:29 PM Everybody can reply

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

Norwich Cathedral contains 1,106 roof bosses, which depict Biblical scenes, foliage, mythical creatures, hunting scenes and more. The cathedral contains more medieval panel paintings than any other church in Britain. The base of its tower is C12; the spire is C15.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Portrait: the cathedral's Norman tower and medieval spire, rising above the cloisters and cloister garth (garden)

Portrait: view down one wing
of the cloisters, with sunlight
from the garth shining through
the columns. The cloister ceiling
is vaulted and contains lots of
colourful roof bosses.

Landscape: 14th century ceiling
painting of three women with
halos (the one in the middle
is holding a baby, so probably
Mary with Jesus)

Square photograph of the
crossing tower ceiling, taken
with the surrounding vaulted
ceilings at right angles

December 13, 2024 at 7:47 PM Everybody can reply

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

@mancathedral.bsky.social, from my visit in July 2022

The ceramic angel wings were an installation celebrating the 600th anniversary of the Royal Charter which established the Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George; this became the cathedral in 1847.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Portrait view of an installation
of ceramic angel wings (with
words written on them),
suspended between wrought
iron railings; the high altar and
a stained glass window are
beyond

Portrait view of the west end of
Manchester Cathedral, with an
arch leading to a fan-vaulted
ceiling and a colourful modern
stained glass window

Portrait view of the high altar
at Manchester Cathedral; the
altar cloth depicts a beach and
waves, and trees growing above

A large metal cross sits on the
altar, and the view beyond is
looking back towards the quire
and organ

Cathedral misericord depicting
a man with a stick fighting a
dragon-like beast

December 12, 2024 at 1:48 PM Everybody can reply

3 reposts 10 likes

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

@lincolncathedral.bsky.social was the tallest building in the world from 1311 (completion of centre spire) to 1548 (collapse of spire). Construction of the first cathedral on the site began in 1072 by Bishop Remigius, who died in 1092 two days prior to its consecration.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Landscape: looking up to the
ceiling of the crossing tower,
and with the last soaring arch of
the nave above

Landscape: colourful stained
glass in the south transept,
including the round "Bishop's
Eye" window and several lancet
windows

Portrait: detail of a carved
stone face on the intricate quire
screen, with more carvings
blurred in the background

Portrait: cathedral exterior,
including one of the towers
and the exterior of one of the
rose windows, viewed from the
cloister garth

December 11, 2024 at 6:27 PM Everybody can reply

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

@lichfieldcathedral.bsky.social is a Gothic sandstone beauty (with Victorian restoration...), home to the C8 Lichfield Angel and Gospels, and a shrine to St Chad (C7 Bishop of Mercia). It has three spires, and is one of only three cathedrals in the UK with this feature.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Portrait: the west front and
three spires of Lichfield
Cathedral, with a bright blue
sky behind. The stone is red
sandstone and there are dozens
of carved statues on the west
front.

Portrait: door at the west front
of Lichfield Cathedral, framed
by several intricately carved
stone arches. The door itself
is decorated with spirals and
flower shapes.

Portrait: tower crossing of
Lichfield Cathedral, and a
view down the quire. Sunlight
and shadow make the vaulted
ceiling look yellow-gold in some
places, and blue in others.

Portrait: stone block (broken
into three pieces but
reconstructed) with an 8th
century carving of an angel
raising its right hand

December 10, 2024 at 11:30 PM Everybody can reply

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

Hereford Cathedral is home to the Mappa Mundi (map of the world, c. 1300, featuring fabulous mythical creatures); a chained library; a 1217 copy of Magna Carta; and (on a more modern front) some lovely stained glass by Thomas Denny, commemorating C17 poet Thomas Traherne.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Landscape view of daffodils
on the banks of the River Wye
(left/centre of photo), with the
river in the right and Hereford
Cathedral peeking up behind on
the opposite bank

Portrait view of a vibrant
stained glass window at
Hereford Cathedral, the top
framed by a large metal feature
of gold chevrons which bears
candles, entitled 'Corona' and
resembling a giant crown of
thorns

Landscape: four windows by Tom Denny at Hereford, installed in honour of 17th century poet Thomas Traherne. Lots of pinks and greens, and scenes from nature.

Portrait: The stone font of Hereford Cathedral, which features carved figures in niches on its sides

At its feet are four stone
creatures (possibly lions), and a
mosaic

Behind the font can be seen the
blues, purples and white of a
modern stained glass window

December 9, 2024 at 11:54 PM Everybody can reply

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

... and four from 2023.

My favourite fact about the Great East Window is that the stained glass was removed for safekeeping in WWII, but the labels fell off the pieces and it had to be reconstructed from a postcard photo.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Portrait: sunlight casts the shape and colours of a stained glass window onto one of Gloucester Cathedral's chunky Norman pillars in the nave

Portrait: exterior view of cathedral tower and east end, with stonework shining on a sunny day

Landscape: Latin manuscript text, including an illuminated 'A', projected onto the cloister fan vaulting at night as part of a display by Luxmuralis

Portrait: the cathedral's Great East Window, with lots of red and blue stained glass, and many figures depicted

December 8, 2024 at 10:57 PM Everybody can reply

1 reposts 13 likes

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

Today's (rather late) #AdventCathedralling entry comes to you from Gloucester Cathedral, with a bonus post as she is my beloved and I take far, far too many photos of her.

#CofE

Thus, four photos from 2022...

Landscape: tower of Gloucester Cathedral and bare tree branches, silhouetted against a pink and purple sunset sky

Portrait: close-up of medieval floor tiles in various shades of brown; most are patterned but one has a face like a lion grinning and sticking out its tongue

Landscape: the three purple-blue windows by Thomas Denny, in Gloucester Cathedral's Thomas Chapel

Portrait: stone steps rising out of a room and up to the fan vaulting of Gloucester Cathedral's cloisters

December 8, 2024 at 10:53 PM Everybody can reply

1 reposts 10 likes

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

Exeter Cathedral (@exetercathedral.bsky.social) was founded in 1050; the current building was completed c. 1400. It has the longest uninterrupted medieval vaulted ceiling in the world. The building is made of local Salcombe stone.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Portrait: soaring vaulting
(lit purple-blue) with gold
roof bosses; rows of elegant
nave pillars are below. The
unique, painted Minstrels
Gallery carving (angels playing
instruments) juts over the nave
from a balcony on the right
Luke Jerram's 'Gaia' installation
(giant inflatable Earth) is
suspended over the nave, at the
left.

Portrait: colourful Lady
Chapel window (and altar
below) framed by the rounded
stonework of the chapel
entrance

Portrait: Norman (12th century)
tower on an overcast day

Portrait: ornate, raised tomb
of a Bishop, with the chapel
ceiling above painted dark blue
and decorated with stars and
crescent moons, plus with gold
roof bosses

December 7, 2024 at 12:35 PM Everybody can reply

5 likes

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

I had a lovELY time visiting @elycathedral.bsky.social in August last year!

St Etheldreda (C7 East Anglian princess) founded Ely Abbey in 672. The current building dates to 1083. Ely was an island until the surrounding Fens were drained in C17.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Landscape: east end of Ely
Cathedral (Lady Chapel on the
right) with a bright blue sky
behind

Portrait: sunlight streaming
down through the windows of
the Lantern; there are colourful
stained glass windows, below
in/around the transepts

Portrait: rows of intricate
ironwork on the inner west door
- lots of swirls and leaves, and
some little birds!

Portrait: the Prior's Door
(12th century), with Christ in
judgement carved above, and
intricately carved doorjambs on
either side (animals, humans
and patterns)

December 6, 2024 at 9:00 PM Everybody can reply

1 reposts 14 likes

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Hannah Valerie

@eckerusla.bsky.social

After a brief glimpse in July 2022, I was really pleased to visit @durhamcathedral.bsky.social properly in August last year. Seeing the monks' dormitory, the 14th century octagonal kitchen, and relics including St Cuthbert's coffin (c. 698) and pectoral cross was amazing.

#AdventCathedralling
#CofE

Landscape: Luke Jerram's
'Gaia' (giant inflatable earth),
suspended between the
chunky, carved Norman
columns at Durham Cathedral

Portrait: blind arcade in
the south aisle of Durham
Cathedral - the stone is pale
brown/orange/yellow, and
contains interesting swirls

Portrait: 12 century bronze
'sanctuary knocker' at Durham
Cathedral (original, in the
museum - a replica is on the
main door), of a lion-like beast
with a snake in its mouth

Portrait: timbered wooden
ceiling of the monks' dormitory
(now the cathedral museum),
and artifacts below including
two massive (resin replica)
stone crosses decorated with
figures and symbols from early
Celtic and Roman Christianity

December 5, 2024 at 8:20 PM Everybody can reply

1 reposts 17 likes

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