604AD
Saxon cathedral built on land donated by King Ethelbert. The Saxon historian Bede tells us that Justus, first Bishop of Rochester, was consecrated here by St Augustine
1082
The Benedictine Priory of St Andrew was established by Gundulf (the first Norman Bishop) and remained until the dissolution of the monastery in 1540
1083
The building of the present Nave was begun by Bishop Gundulf, a Benedictine monk from Bec in France
1130
The Norman Cathedral was consecrated on Ascension Day. Henry I attended the ceremony
1137c
Fires destroyed the wooden roof of the Nave and damaged the Quire
1180
Work began on re-building in the Gothic style, starting with the Quire
1201
William of Perth was murdered nearby. Pilgrims visiting his shrine brought in money to help the monks re-build the cathedral
1200c
The Presbytery was begun, and roofed in by 1214
1215
The cathedral was plundered when King John held it against the rebel barons. It was later desecrated by Simon de Montfort’s troops when they captured the city
1227
The new Quire was consecrated
1240c
The North Transept was built. The South Transept, originally used as a Lady Chapel, was built a few decades later
1340c
Hamo de Hythe vaulted the Transepts, raised the central tower and spire, and re-decorated the Quire. The Chapter Library door depicts his soul rising to heaven
1440c
The present Nave clerestory replaced a smaller Romanesque one, and the Great West window was put in place
1490c
The present Lady Chapel, the latest part of the cathedral, was enlarged as a Quire for the new-style polyphonic choirs who sang at the Lady Chapel altar in the South Transept
1542
A new foundation of a Dean and six Canons was established and the cathedral dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary
1642
Cathedral was damaged by Cromwell’s soldiers. One note on the rebels.
Cathedral was damaged by Cromwell’s soldiers. One note on the rebels.
"On Wednesday,
being Bartholomew Day, we marched forth, some of our souldiers ... went to the
Cathedrall about 9 or 10 of the clock, in the midst of their superstitious
worship, with their singing men and boyes; they ... went about the work they
came for. First they removed the table to its place apointed, and then tooke
the seat which it stood upon, ... and brake that all to pieces; ...they pluckt
down the rails and left them for the poore to kindle their fires; and so left
the organs to be pluckt down when we came back again, but it appeared before we
came back they took them downe themselves. Post restoration, the relative lack of damage
was noted, in particular the "monuments of the dead" were not
defaced, although one John Wyld (a shoemaker of the city) was accused of taking
down and selling iron and brass from some tombs. Fairfax's troops
stabled there horses in the quire as in other cathedrals. Although no
structural damage seems to have occurred, several saw pits were dug in the nave
floor."
1825
The South Quire Transept was strengthened by L N Cottingham
1872
Major restoration work was carried out by George Gilbert Scott
1904
The present tower and spire were dedicated
2004
1400th anniversary of the cathedral and the diocese of Rochester. Dedication of the Fresco
1825
The South Quire Transept was strengthened by L N Cottingham
1872
Major restoration work was carried out by George Gilbert Scott
1904
The present tower and spire were dedicated
2004
1400th anniversary of the cathedral and the diocese of Rochester. Dedication of the Fresco
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