Cathedrals of Britain

Power, glory, bloodshed, prayer: cathedrals in the UK are as much about human drama as spiritual sanctuary, as much about political wrangling as religious fervour. From Christian beginnings in the Middle Ages through Reformation, Renaissance and Modernity, the great cathedrals of Britain have been both battleground and place of quiet reflection; created for the glory of God for sure, but also for the glory of men. There's a litany of great deeds and a list of secrets tied up in our national cathedrals and all are revealed within our guides, the ideal companions to the stories behind the greatest cathedrals of all. Whether you are travelling to view the buildings themselves or being an armchair enthusiast, let us take you on a journey. Book Three: Central and the East of England - Heavy hitters on the religious landscape, the famous cathedrals of East Anglia were a roll-call of riches, power, authority and influence in the Middle Ages and still attract hundreds of thousands of visitors today. In cathedral terms, they rank among some of the brightest and the best - Norwich, Lincoln, Ely, Peterborough and St Edmundsbury - along with their close neighbors Oxford - the smallest cathedral in England - and Lichfield - the final resting place of the 7th century St Chad and his multitude of angels. Here are wonderful treasures to be explored. From a building that was once the tallest in the world, surpassing even the monumental Great Pyramid of Giza, to one that is the final resting place for the digestive system of a legendary queen.

**Pointing persistently to heaven: A guide to UK cathedrals** Rich, rolling countryside and historic towns, scenic coasts and picture-perfect landscapes. The west of England and Wales has many attractions, and not least of these are its cathedrals. Here you’ll find some of Britain’s finest and most awe-inspiring. From the country’s longest cathedral, at Winchester, to its smallest, at St Asaph. From the tallest spire in the country at Salisbury, to the longest Gothic stone vaulted ceiling in the world at Exeter. You’ll also find the cathedral founded in the nations smallest city by the man who would become the patron saint of Wales. One of the most impressive and famous cathedral fronts in the country, decorated with one of the largest collections of medieval statues in Europe. And one of only six abbeys saved from destruction during Henry VIIIs purge of the Reformation.**Book Four: The West and South West of England and Wales**

**Pointing persistently to heaven: A guide to UK cathedrals**Power, glory, bloodshed, prayer: cathedrals in the UK are as much about human drama as spiritual sanctuary, as much about political wrangling as religious fervor. From Christian beginnings in the Middle Ages through Reformation, Renaissance and Modernity, the great cathedrals of Britain have been both battleground and place of quiet reflection; created for the glory of God for sure, but also for the glory of men.Theres a litany of great deeds and a list of secrets tied up in our national cathedrals and all are revealed within our guides, the ideal companions to the stories behind the greatest cathedrals of all. Whether you are traveling to view the buildings themselves or being an armchair enthusiast, let us take you on a journey.**Book One: The North of England and Scotland**From early Celtic influences through to English Reformation and the rise of Scots Calvinism, Scotland and the north of England has had a turbulent religious history. It was once united as the Kingdom of Northumbria, from Edinburgh and Lothian right down to the Humber, incorporating the counties of Durham and York and the holy isle of Lindisfarne. Today the kingdom has been dismantled but the cathedrals, which include some of the most famous buildings in the UK, still flourish and offer their secrets for discovery.Here you will solve the mystery recently uncovered in a mass grave in the countrys oldest cathedral. Find a link to one of the UKs most famous retailers in an 11th century building. Enter inside the grand Scottish cathedral built in tribute to a 7th century Greek hermit. And go underground to discover a Saxon crypt, dating from the mid 600s.

**Pointing persistently to heaven: A guide to UK cathedrals**Power, glory, bloodshed, prayer: cathedrals in the UK are as much about human drama as spiritual sanctuary, as much about political wrangling as religious fervour. From Christian beginnings in the Middle Ages through Reformation, Renaissance and Modernity, the great cathedrals of Britain have been both battleground and place of quiet reflection; created for the glory of God for sure, but also for the glory of men. Theres a litany of great deeds and a list of secrets tied up in our national cathedrals and all are revealed within our guides, the ideal companions to the stories behind the greatest cathedrals of all. Whether you are traveling to view the buildings themselves or being an armchair enthusiast, let us take you on a journey.**Book Two: London and the South East**Four out of six of the cathedrals in this book were created for God and the Church of Rome, five now answer to the Queen of England. And the seventh isnt in fact a cathedral at all, though youll see why it takes its place among these hallowed buildings. From tiny timber churches that grew into magnificent cathedrals, from a Catholic faith turned Protestant, the story of these cathedrals, some of the foremost in Britain, is tumultuous, awe-inspiring and splattered with violence. They count among their numbers the oldest cathedral in England and the oldest religious sites in Britain. Many were established in the glory days of cathedral building under the rule of William the Conqueror from the 11th century. But their foundations go back much earlier; to small churches, priories and monasteries. Some may have been Roman temples. Pre-dating that, its likely many were Pagan shrines and places of worship.