When I travel in England, I try to get to a Cathedral I haven’t visited before. In my most recent trip, I visited two new English Cathedrals: Ely and Norwich. I have added both to my list of favourites! In this post I talk about these two new favourites, and an old one: York Minster. York is only a two hour trip by train from London.
Ely Cathedral
Ely Cathedral dates back to 672 AD, when St Aethedreda founded it as an abbey. It was one of the most important English cathedrals of the middle ages, and is one of the largest. The earliest parts of the current building date back to 1083. It was granted cathedral status in 1109.
When you walk into the cathedral, you immediately notice its size. Although most cathedrals are huge, this is one of the biggest.
Like many abbeys and cathedrals, it didn’t escape the ravages of the reformation, and much of the huge lady chapel–off to the side of the building, were stripped bare of statues and artworks.
The octagonal tower is one of the most notable features of the building and the beams of light that radiate down through it on a sunny day are an absolute delight and remind you of the spiritual significance of the building.
When I was there in July this year (2024) the Sean Henry ‘Am I My Brother’s Keeper’ exhibition was on. It was an exhibition of striking statues, which depicted modern workers and worshipers–ordinary people of the United Kingdom.
There is also an excellent Stained Glass Museum on the first floor of the cathedral.
Admission:
Entry: Cathedral- £15 for Adults
Stained Glass Museum: £6 for Adults
Please visit the Ely Cathedral Website for current entry information.
Getting there:
Address: The College, Ely, CB7 4DL.
There is a railway station at Ely. It has connections to Cambridge, Norwich and other major centres.
You can book trains through Omio.com.
Norwich Cathedral
Construction on Norwich Cathedral started in 1096 and took only around 50 years to complete. This is quick as medieval cathedrals go!
This cathedral is a treasure trove of art and architecture and has a quite magnificent cloister, which was added m in the 13th century and not completed until 1430. The cloisters now feature a labyrinth, which, when I visited, was partly covered by plastic chairs ready for a function!
The original stained-glass windows were destroyed during the reformation and English civil war, and the current ones were installed in 1854.
This is a wonderful cathedral with someone to see with every step you take.
Entry to Norwich Cathedral is free, with a voluntary donation if you so wish to make one. This is unlike many English Cathedrals and abbeys which now charge for entry.
Getting There
Address: 65 The Close, Norwich, NR1 4DH.
You can get to Norwich by train from London, Cambridge with connections to other major centres. You can book a ticket through Omio.com.
There are also local buses which take you to smaller towns in Norfolk.
Please click on this link for the cathedral website.
York Minster
York Minster is one of the most famous English Cathedrals. It is the seat of the Archbishop of York, who is second in only in importance (in the Church of England) to the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is the second largest Gothic Cathedral in northern Europe.
The first time I visited York Minster was in 1984. That visit was just a few weeks after the south transept was struck by lightning and engulfed in flames, which took 4 years to restore. I remember the theories at the time about the reasons for the lightning strike. Some said it was because of the recent investiture of the new Bishop of Durham, David Jenkins, because of his unorthodox views on the virgin birth. 1984 was a turbulent time.
The first record of a church on the site dates back to 627 AD. Most of the building was completed in the 13th -15th centuries. Incredibly, most of the stained glass has survived since that period.
York Minster has a great history, and is one of the finest cathedrals in the land, although the competition is steep!
I visit this cathedral often, not only because it’s a fine cathedral, but because I visit York often, York being one of my favourite cities in Europe, and certainly in the UK.
Getting There
Address: Minster Yard, Deangate, York YO1 7HH.
Admission: £18–Adult/Seniors
£16–Student (Not from York)
York is a major city, and you can get a train from London which takes about 2 hours. It is on the main train line between London and Edinburgh.
You can book through Omio.com.
You can also get there by coach from London and other major cities.
Local buses take you to smaller towns and villages throughout the region.
Visit their website through this link for current admission prices and opening times.
