Top 10 Facts About Gloucester Cathedral

Photo by Gloucester Cathedral from Wikimedia

Top 10 Facts About Gloucester Cathedral

Gloucester Cathedral is located in Gloucestershire, a county in South West England.

The Cathedral started as a monastery in 678 AD.

The cathedral was started in honor of St Peter,  one of the 12 disciples of Jesus.

According to the Christian Bible narrative, St Peter is the most famous disciple among the twelve.

St Peters Basilica in Rome,  the biggest cathedral and the headquarters of the Catholic church, is also named in his honor.

Gloucester cathedral building stands near the longest river in Great Britain, the River Severn.

It is a major tourist attraction bringing in around half a million visitors to Gloucester each year.

Here are the top 10 facts about Gloucester Cathedral

1. The Gloucester Cathedral had a Different Name

Photo by HARTLEPOOLMARINA2014 from Wikimedia

The Gloucester Cathedral was originally known as the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity.

It originated in 678 or 679 with the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter.

It is an important feature in the Diocese of Gloucester which is part of the Province of Canterbury.

Pilgrimages from all over the world arrive here every year to pay homage to this medieval Cathedral.

Visiting the Cathedral is free but visitors are allowed to make donations towards the maintenance of the building.

2. The History of The Gloucester Cathedral dates back to 681 AD

Photo by Saffron Blaze from Wikimedia

The Cathedral’s history dates back to 681 A.D, when Saxon king  Osric ordered the construction of an abbey in honor of St Peter.

Osric was a king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the Hwicce in the late 7th century. 

In the 11^th century, the bishop of Worcester used the site as home to the  Benedictine Monastery.

After many centuries of its existence, the Cathedral structure became worn out and dilapidated.

William the Conqueror decided to build a new Cathedral and appointed Abbot Serlo, to lay the foundation of the present building.

3. The Gloucester Cathedral Cloister is Magnificent

Photo by Christopher JT Cherrington from Wikipedia

One of the most outstanding features of the Cathedral is the Cloister of Gloucester.

The cloisters at Gloucester are the earliest surviving fan vaults, in the whole of England. 

The Cloister of the Gloucester Cathedral is a  representation of medieval architecture designs.

It was designed between 1351 and 1377 by Thomas de Cantebrugge. 

The new design as we see it today was developed and completed by Abbot Froucester in 1412.

 Designers of the Cloister got their motivation from the fact that monks needed more space to carry out their daily activities.

4. The Gloucester Cathedral Great East Window is unique

Photo by Jules & Jenny from Wikimedia

The Great East Window is not like any other window found in the world.

It was fitted as part of the much-needed uplift of the Quire during the burial of King Edward II.

It was so huge that in the 1350s when it was erected, its size was not matched by any other window in Europe at that time.

This is no surprise for a window with a height of 22 meters and a width of 12 meters.

The glass artwork demonstrates an imaginary story of the chain of command in ancient society and the idea behind Divine Order in the church.

Tourists from all over the world come here in the summer to marvel at the size and the glamour of this magnificent window.

5. The Gloucester Cathedral is Home to  the Tomb of King Edward II 

Photo by PMRMaeyaert from Wikipedia

The Tomb of King Edward is located inside the Gloucester Cathedral building.

Gloucester Cathedral was chosen because it was close to the place where the king has died.

The tomb rapidly became a popular site for the locals who wanted to show respect for their departed king.

They were encouraged by the local monks, who lacked another existing pilgrimage site.

Major repairs were done to the tomb in 2007, at a cost of over £100,000.

King Edward II was made King in 1307 but his reign was synonymous with controversy.

Thousands of historians and curious tourists visit this famous tomb every year.

6. The Bell Tower is an important feature at the Gloucester Cathedral

Photo by Robert Payne from Wikimedia

The Cathedral Tower holds a key position in the glamour of the Cathedral.

The current bell tower at   Gloucester Cathedral was built in 1450 A.D.

The first bell tower at the  Cathedral had 8 bells,  two more were added in 1956. 

The added bells were from the old bell tower of St Michael’s Church.

 In 1978, two more bells were added to the tower. They were all rearranged to make a ring of twelve.

The two oldest bells at the tower date back to 1420 A.D,  making them much older than the present tower.

7 The Gloucester Cathedral was a Filming Location

Gloucester Cathedral has been a filming location for several movies.

Films producers and directors are attracted to the cathedral due to its history and medieval structural design.

West Corridor of the Gloucester Cathedral featured in the 2009 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood movie.

8. Gloucester Cathedral’s Organ is an Antique

Photo by Julian P Guffogg from Wikimedia

Another big feature to look for is the cathedral’s organ.

It has survived in the Cathedral for over 300 years.

The organ was constructed in 1666 by Thomas Harris and it is the only complete 17th-century cathedral organ case surviving in England.

The pipes displayed on the front of the case are still functional after 300 years of the organ’s existence.

The organ was extended and modified by nearly all established UK organ builders.

 9. The Gloucester Cathedral  Choir was Establishment by King Henry VIII 

King Henry VIII ordered the establishment of the choir in the early 1540s.

The choir comprised  Boy Choristers and Laymen Clerks.

Today, girls enjoy full recognition and confirmation with a choral scholarship in September 2021.

The Cathedral choir plays a vital role in the Cathedral services during the school term.

They perform during services meant to mark Christmas, Advent, and Candlemas.

The choir also participates in the Three Choir Festival. The other participants include the Cathedral choirs of Hereford and Worcester.

10. Gloucester Cathedral is open to the Public

The Gloucester Cathedral is open to the public from Mondays to Fridays.

Entrance to the Cathedral is free,  but donations towards the maintenance of the building can are accepted.