The Great English Cathedrals
Cathedral is a majestic survey of some of the finest English medieval cathedrals and the author aims to make the reader look at these buildings in a different way. He explains how central the cathedrals were to medieval people – not just the clergy but also ordinary members of society.
The book is divided into two sections; Life and History and The Cathedrals. In the preface, Jon Cannon explains that very often, a medieval cathedral was quite literally the centre of society, a place where important decisions were made and some of the greatest thinkers of the day were taught.
The History of Cathedral Building
The first section of the Life and History section concentrates on how cathedrals were created in a society which was still recovering from the changes brought about by the fall of the Roman empire.
St Martins of Canterbury is the oldest standing cathedral in England and was created at the end of the sixth century, a time when Christianity was becoming an important part of medieval life. The cathedral was built partly from Roman bricks and in Roman design, demonstrating that the influence of the Roman occupation was still strong.
The author takes the reader through history, explaining which cathedrals were built and when. But this is more than a simple narrative. Cannon explains the events and personalities surrounding these building projects and the impact that the new buildings had on society.
Building a Medieval Cathedral
The manpower involved in creating a medieval cathedral was huge and hundreds of workers could be involved at any one time. The author introduces the reader to the various tradesmen, explaining the hierarchy and wage structure. From the master mason to the quarry labourer, each person’s role is explained in detail, with an explanation of how that person’s work fitted into the overall project.
There is information about the wages paid to various workers, along with any perks of the job, such as free accommodation or a loaf of bread a day. Throughout the text, the author has scattered fascinating little tales from original sources, which serve to bring the text to life and enable the reader to relate to the people described. In one tale, the young clerks of Lincoln were instructed not to talk during the services and not to rush their religious chants in order to get back to catching pigeons and lighting fires in the bell tower. It is small details like these which can be the most fascinating and enlightening of all.
The section on those who lived and worked in the finished cathedrals is particularly interesting. The author presents the cathedral community almost as a town in its own right, with people working behind the scenes to supply the needs of those who worked in or visited the cathedral.
The English Cathedrals
Part two of Cathedral concentrates on 28 English cathedrals: Bath, Bristol, Canterbury, Carlisle, Chester, Chichester, Coventry, Durham, Ely, Exeter, Gloucester, Hereford, Lichfield, Lincoln, Norwich, Oxford, Peterborough, Ripon, Rochester, St Albans, St Paul’s, Salisbury, Southwark, Southwell, Wells, Winchester, Worcester and York.
Each cathedral has a full, detailed chapter with a floor plan and stunning interior and exterior photographs. The images include parts of some cathedrals which are not normally accessible to visitors.
Every chapter has a full history of the cathedral and the people connected with it. Royalty, clergy, patrons and visitors are all featured and there is a ‘what to see’ panel at the end of each section, which details the fittings and architectural details of particular interest.
Summary
Cathedral is a sumptuous, fascinating and authoritative study of the finest English medieval cathedrals. This is so much more than a reference book; the photography is stunning, the narrative lively and fast-moving and the author’s fascination with the subject is infectious. A real treat for anyone interested in the history and architecture of cathedrals and how the medieval cathedrals were built.
Publication Details
Cannon, Jon Cathedral: The Great English Cathedrals and the World That Made Them 600-1540 [Constable, 2007]
544 pages, ISBN 9781841198415
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