Top 10 Facts about Lincoln Cathedral

Top 10 Facts about Lincoln Cathedral

The Lincoln Cathedral which is also known as the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln is located in Lincoln, England. The construction of the cathedral started in 1072 and it spanned through several phases in the high middle ages. The church was built in gothic style since it was popular during that time.
Additionally, the cathedral was considered the tallest structure in the world for 238 until the spire at the top fell in 1548 and it was not fixed. The cathedral was first occupied by Roman Catholics but it is presently used by the Church of England. Here are ten facts that enlighten the reader on the historic site that holds so much history and culture.

1.  The cathedral took more than 200 years to complete

A picture of Lincoln Cathedral by Howardgannaway-Wikimedia

The place which was built as a place of worship for Christians dates back to the 11th century. Construction of the cathedral by Bishop Lincoln commenced in 1088 and it was completed in 1092.

However, a fire broke out in 1141 and destroyed the cathedral which prompted its reconstruction. The newly reconstructed cathedral collapsed after the greatest earthquake ever experienced in Britain in 1185. It was rebuilt again but it collapsed in 1237. Reconstruction, after it collapsed, was started in 1255 and finally finished in 1311. Therefore, the cathedral took a total of 219 years to be finished.

2 . The Bishops eye

The Bishop’s eye by Jules andJenny-Wikimedia

The cathedral has a round window that is located on the southern side of the main transept. The south side was good in mediaeval tradition and it was believed that the window would invite the light of the Holy Spirit into the church.

The glass used to make the window is a kaleidoscope of fragmented glass that was inserted into the space in the 1700s and it shines like a jewel. This feature attracts tourists to the cathedral as they want to experience the unique historical feature.

3. The limestone used in the construction of the cathedral is pink in some places

After the fire razed down the cathedral in the 1120s, the temperature went over 300°c which made the Lincolnshire Limestone turn pink. This made the masons investigate the matter. They only replaced the limestone that had a deep pink colour while those that were superficial in colour were retained. Therefore, the west wing has some bright pink stone walls from the limestone that were not replaced.

4. Organs of Eleanor of Castile are buried in the castle

Eleanor of Castile who was the wife of King Edward 1 also known as Longshanks made a voyage from London to Lincoln in 1290 but she died in the village of Harby just 50 kilometres from the city. Her husband ordered that her body be transported to Westminster Abbey and crosses to be erected along the way from Lincoln to London.
During that time it was common for a body to be eviscerated before the burial. Therefore, Edward had Eleanor’s vital organs to be buried beneath the cathedral.

5.  The Bishop does not occupy the best seat in the cathedral

Lincoln Cathedral by Diliff-Wikimedia

The Bishop is appointed the chief pastor of the Diocese of Lincoln but the Dean is the one in charge of the cathedral. Presently, the position of the Dean is held by Reverend Christine Wilson. The Dean, sub-Dean, Presenter and the Chancellor all have seats in the St. Hugh choir while the Bishop merely sits in the cathedral.
Therefore the Dean holds more authority in the cathedral than the Bishop even though the Bishop governs the diocese.

6. The cathedral houses the world’s first flat park furniture

When Bishop Alexander was appointed the Bishop of Lincoln in 1123 he styled a piece of furniture known as “The Magnificent”. This piece featured a swish of tournament marble that was transported to Lincoln in flat-pack form. The price of furniture was then assembled in the cathedral.
It is the oldest piece of furniture in the cathedral and thus attracts curiosity from history enthusiasts who will visit the cathedral to look at it.

7. The Lincoln Imp

The Lincoln Imp byRichard Croft-Wikimedia

The story of the imp is the most notable in the cathedral. Mediaeval folk stories state that the imp was a naughty creature that wreaked havoc in the Midlands. Therefore, when the Lincoln imp and his friends arrived at the cathedral, some angels were tired of their antics and thus turned them into stones so that they could be an example to other naughty creatures. The imp is set up high up on a pillar and the tourist can turn on the lights to see it.

8. There are faces on the choir screen

The cathedral has a stone screen below the father’s organ that has an intricate set of carvings which are in the stonework. The carvings show cuts made by masons which one can see faces. This shows that the masons in that era were skilled as they were able to make unique carvings and incorporate people’s faces into them with the limited tools available at that time.

This feature is ideal for visitors in that they can make it a memorable experience while trying to see how many faces they can count.

9. The cathedral has multiple styles of architecture

Since the cathedral was rebuilt several times as a result of the catastrophes it endured, it has different styles of architecture. This is because styles of building and constructing structures evolve as time goes by and because of its numerous reconstructions, the cathedral has different styles. Additionally, this concept makes it unique in that not many historic features have such diverse features incorporated into them.

10. The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary-Free Images

The cathedral’s patron Saint is the Blessed Virgin Mary. Therefore a statue was commissioned in 2014 to honour their patron saint. Mary was known to be the protector of Lincoln during the Middle Ages. The statue features Mary wearing a blue cloak and a brown tunic which symbolises heaven and earth.
This spot attracts tourists as they want to take a picture of the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.