Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Ripon / A Short History of the Church and a Description of Its Fabric

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25800

Title

Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Ripon / A Short History of the Church and a Description of Its Fabric

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This authoritative guide by Cecil Hallett offers a comprehensive history and architectural description of Ripon Cathedral. Blending scholarly research with vivid detail, it explores the site's evolution from a Saxon monastery to a medieval masterpiece, highlighting its unique features like the Saxon Crypt and the magnificent Perpendicular nave.

Summary up to 500 words

Cecil Hallett's *Bell's Cathedrals* volume on Ripon offers a comprehensive history and architectural survey of the cathedral, tracing its origins to the seventh century. Initially a Scottish monastery founded by St. Eata around 657, the site was populated by monks from Melrose who followed the Irish tradition. This era ended dramatically in 661 when St. Wilfrid, a Roman missionary, was appointed abbot. Wilfrid converted the house to Roman usage, imposing the Benedictine Rule and constructing a magnificent stone minster dedicated to St. Peter, a project that rivaled the status of the Northumbrian king. The text details the complex ecclesiastical politics of the time, including the Synod of Whitby, where Wilfrid secured the alignment of Northumbria with the Roman Church. Following the division of the Northumbrian diocese, Ripon was established as a separate see in 681, though it remained under York's jurisdiction until Wilfrid's restoration in 686. Hallett reconstructs the building's evolution from early wooden structures to stone, highlighting the Norman crypt and the significant rebuilding under Archbishop Roger in the Early English style. Architecturally, the book contrasts the distinctive yellow gritstone of the older sections with the white limestone of the later Perpendicular nave. Special attention is given to the Saxon Crypt, known as St. Wilfrid's Needle, and the associated medieval superstitions regarding female chastity. The narrative covers the cathedral's survival through the Reformation, the suppression of the collegiate chapter, and its subsequent foundation by King James I. Throughout, Hallett utilizes primary sources to reconstruct the building's appearance, making the work an essential resource for understanding this remarkable ecclesiastical structure and its unique blend of Saxon, Norman, Early English, and Perpendicular styles.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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