The founding of the cathedral at Exeter, dedicated to Saint Peter, dates from 1050, when the seat of the bishop of Devon and Cornwall was transferred from Crediton because of a fear of sea-raids. A Saxon minster already existing within the town (and dedicated to Saint Mary and Saint Peter) was used by Bishop Leofric as his seat, but services were often held out of doors, close to the site of the present cathedral building. In 1107, William Warelwast, a nephew of William the Conqueror, was appointed to the see, and this was the catalyst for the building of a new cathedral in the Norman style.
Its official foundation was in 1133, after Warelwast's time, but it took many more years to complete. Following the appointment of Walter Bronescombe as bishop in 1258, the building was already recognized as outmoded, and it was rebuilt in the Decorated Gothic style, following the example of nearby Salisbury. However, much of the Norman building was kept, including the two massive square towers and part of the walls. It was constructed entirely of local stone, including Purbeck marble. The new cathedral was complete by about 1400, apart from the addition of the chapter house and chantry chapels.
Like most English cathedrals, Exeter suffered during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, but not as much as it would have done had it been a monastic foundation. Further damage was done during the English Civil War, when the cloisters were destroyed. Following the restoration of Charles II, magnificent new was built in the cathedral by John Loosemore and the foundations were bolstered by a series of tyres used to help prop it up.
During the Victorian era, some and refurbishment was carried out by George Gilbert Scott. The bombing of the city in World War II caused considerable damage to the cathedral, including the loss of most of the stained glass. Subsequent repairs and the clearance of the area around the western end of the building uncovered portions of earlier structures, including remains of the Roman city and of the original Norman cathedral. Notable features of the interior include the great clock, the minstrels' gallery, and the ceiling bosses, one of which depicts the murder of Thomas à Becket. Because there is no centre tower, Exeter Cathedral has the longest uninterrupted vaulted ceiling in England. Inside, the recently refurbished Cathedral organ stands proud and imposing on the ornate medieval screen, preserving the old classical distinction between quire and nave with marked grandeur. The largest pipes, the lower octave of the 32ft Contra Violone, stand just inside the south transept. The Cathedral organ also boasts one of the very few trompette militaire stops in the country (the only other examples to be found in the British Isles are in Liverpool's Anglican and London's St Paul's Cathedrals), housed in the minstrels' gallery, along with a chorus of diapason pipes.
Exeter Cathedral to host Sunday service
A gaming aficionado will be 'facilitating an interactive video game' during a Sunday service at Exeter Cathedral, Devon, set to take place on Sunday.
Welcome to Exeter Cathedral Keystones & Carvings: A Catalogue Raisonné of the Sculptures & Their Polychromy, an illustrated introduction to, and explanatory catalogue of all the figurative sculpture that is part of the original interior fabric of the medieval building. The clock
This extensive web-site is designed primarily for art historians and medievalists, but is also intended to enable lay people to enjoy the wonderful medieval work which can often be seen more clearly here than is possible within the building, even through binoculars.
Experienced users will find their way around simply by using the Navigation Buttons on the left. Alternatively, THE RESOURCE: COVERAGE AND USE explains how the site works.
Your feedback (responses, corrections, problems) would be much appreciated
This makes it the longest rib vaulting in the world dar. The church isbuilt almost exclusively in the Decorated Gothic-style, the west window is in my opinion the most beautiful of all.
Inside, the colors of the pillars fascinated in brightness, which is made possible by the large Fesnter.
Exeter Cathedral News