Louise had to take her car in for service at the Volvo dealership in Bury St Edmund's so Sue Custerson and I joined her and took the opportunity to tour St Edmundsbury Cathedral.
In 869 Edmund was martyred and his body eventually made its way to Bedericesworth (Bury St Edmunds) around the year 900 and was housed in a shrine that subsequently became a large Benedictine Abbey. At the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century, the Abbey was dismantled and fell into ruins. The Abbeygate pictured below is one of the few remaining structures to be seen.
The Theater Royal, built by the National Gallery Architect William Wilkins is the only remaining Regency theater in the UK. It is owned by the Greene King Brewery and leased, for a nominal sum, to the National Trust. Their website is worth checking out; The National Trust. If you want to rent a castle or lighthouse for the weekend they are the ones to see.
A rather interesting sign post.
The original abbey was founded in 1020. From 1065 to 1097 a church was constructed and dedicated to St James. In 1914 St James became St Edmundsbury Cathedral. From 1959 to the present many new structures were renovated or added to the cathedral building. The Millennium Tower was started in 2000 and completed in 2005. All of the work has been down in the traditional manner and stands out only because the wood and stone are evidently new.
A small garden off the tea room.
Louise and Sue a.k.a. The Ladies
The baptismal font at the back of the cathedral.
So far this has to be my favourite cathedral. It is not a large structure and in that I find an intimacy that is not there for me when I view other, much large cathedrals. The stone used is very light in colour and being relatively new in many places, it has not taken on the dark patina of age. It makes for a very light and airy interior.
The millennium tower, as close as I could get
The Chancel ceiling.
This has to be one of the most beautiful chapels I have seen; elegant in its simplicity. The altar is constructed of massive slabs of rough hewn stone. Now that is an altar that makes a statement.
The chapel dedicated to St Edmund
The cathedra.
The High Altar, again very bright and open.
The Lady Chapel
A modern tapestry depicting Edmund's martyrdom.
A thoroughly enjoyable day. This is one cathedral I would wish to visit again.
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