The History of England's Cathedrals

The first history of all the English cathedrals, from Birmingham and Bury St Edmunds to Worcester and York Minster England's sixty-two Anglican and Catholic cathedrals are some of our most iconic buildings, attracting millions of worshippers and visitors every year. Yet although much has been written about their architecture, there is no complete history of their life and activities. This is the first such book to provide one, stretching from Roman times to the present day. The History of England's Cathedrals explains where and why they were founded, who staffed them, and how their structures evolved. It describes their worship and how this changed over the centuries, their schools and libraries, and their links with the outside world. The history of these astonishing buildings is the history of England. Reading this book will bring you face to face with the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Normans, Reformation, Civil War, Victorian England, World War Two, and finally modern democracy.

About the Author :
Nicholas Orme is emeritus professor of history at Exeter University. He has written more than thirty books on the religious and social history of England, including Medieval Children, Tudor Children, and Going to Church in Medieval England, which was shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize.

Review :
“A detailed, chronological discussion of cathedral architecture and, more broadly, [the] forms of worship, the roles of the clergy, the activities of the laypeople. . . . As Mr. Orme makes clear, cathedrals in England . . . remain active centers of religious life. While some . . . may have shed their Gothic dress, for the most part the English cathedral endures in its essential form.”—Benjamin Riley, Wall Street Journal “A fascinating and detailed description of the historical development of the English cathedral from the arrival of Christianity in A.D. 314 until the present day.”—Joan Greatrex, Catholic Historical Review “Delightful. . . . A history of English cathedrals as living institutions as well as architectural monuments.”—Peter Atkinson, Journal of Ecclesiastical History “Magisterial. . . . Charts the remarkable voyage of cathedrals during their 1700-year history.”—Michael Tavinor, Church Times “A masterful narrator of the Cathedral story. . . . Cathedrals stand as shrines to the beauty of human creation, beauty as yet unsurpassed. To their survival we should all be dedicated.”—Simon Jenkins, Country Life “This is one of the very few [books] looking at [Cathedrals] as ancient institutions surviving through so many centuries. It is a fine achievement and is highly recommended.”—Douglas Young, Aspects of History “This is a book simultaneously deeply learned and piquantly evocative of an unrecoverable Europe.”—Derek Turner, Chronicles Magazine “The history of these astonishing buildings is the history of England. Reading this account will bring  you face to face with the Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, Normans, Reformation, Civil War, Victorian England, World War Two and finally modern democracy.”—John Singleton, Methodist Recorder “The Cathedrals of England are institutions older than the realm itself, and are perhaps more cherished and flourishing now than they have ever been, as this richly enjoyable volume makes clear. There can be no-one better qualified than Nicholas Orme to present the full range of their long history.”—Diarmaid MacCulloch, author of A History of Christianity “Clear, accessible, and superbly illustrated, this book should be essential reading for visitors to English cathedrals. The book has no rival in serious and accessible literature. Anyone interested in cathedrals should have it on their shelves.”—David Rollason, author of The Power of Place