Lincoln Cathedral, East Midlands

William the Conqueror granted the Bishopric of Lincoln to Remigius in 1072. Just after this the building work on the Cathedral began.  In the early 12th Century Lincoln Cathedral was damaged by fire and this promoted further building work which saw the Cathedral enlarged.  At the end of the 12th century there was an earthquake, this necessitated structural repairs and much of the Cathedral was rebuilt in the Gothic style. This work began in 1192.  In the early 13th Century the central tower collapsed, and a new central tower was begun. 

The nave, which is Early English Gothic in design, is refreshing in that it is not cluttered with modern chairs as in most Cathedrals.  It is left as it was intended to be- an open public space where originally there would have been a procession of pilgrims coming to visit. 

Lincoln, like most Medieval Cathedrals, faces east and point towards Jerusalem.  Therefore the High Alter is at the east end of the Cathedral which means that the congregation would also face east.  Burials were also placed with their feet to the east, the idea apparently being that if they rose again they would be facing the right direction.

The round window known as the Bishop’s Eye, because the door to the Bishop’s palace was originally on this side, dates from the 1330’s.  The window design is of two leafs side by side, and the glass is mainly medieval fragments from the 13th and 14th Centuries. 

The Choir screen is decorated Gothic in design, created in carved stone dating from 1290-1350.  Every inch of the medieval screen is carved and contains tiny caricature heads of men, beasts and creatures against a flowered background.  They still contain traces of the red, blue and gilding that can only hint at the richness of the original decoration. 

Katherine Swynford is buried at Lincoln Cathedral, while no effigy remains, her burial location is in a Chantry Chapel.  She was the mistress of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and Earl of Lincoln, he was also the son of Edward III.  She later became his wife in 1396 after the death of his first wife.  By the time of their marriage they already had four children who bore the name Beaufort.  Their children were legitimized at the time of the wedding but they were barred from the line of accession to the throne.  This did not prove to be enough of a deterrent when their descendant, Lady Margaret Beaufort helped her son to the throne in 1485, becoming Henry VII.

St Hugh, previously a Bishop of Lincoln, was Canonised in 1220, only 20 years after his death.  His shrine became so popular with pilgrims that the east end was extended to provide more space for them. New north and south entrances were also created.  St. Hugh’s remains where transplanted into the new location east of the Choir screen. King Edward I and Queen Eleanor witnessed the reburial.  This shrine, like most shrines, was destroyed during the Reformation.

In the middle ages a saint’s body was precious and it also had a lot to do.  It wasn’t uncommon to take it apart, so that various bits could do various jobs.  In St. Hugh’s case, he was in a portable shrine so that he could be paraded on the street on special occasions.  However, various bones or organs may also be removed from a saint, to be taken to the sick, or on crusade, or into battle, or any cause thought worthy. 

Pilgrims where the first tourists, they would travel to a shrine in order for their prayers to better heard. They felt that the closer they could get to a particular saint, the better the chance that the saint would intercede on their behalf. Those seeking miracles would try and get as close as possible, sitting in niches and touching the stone, they would remain there night and day praying and waiting.  They would offer money and goods for their prayers to be granted.  A clerk would be in attendance to record miracles and a watchman would also be present to guard the relics.

Lincoln Cathedral is known for its notorious Imp, not what you usually expect to find in a Cathedral. Here he sits with his horns, claws and feathers, he seems comfortable with his legs crossed. Legend has it that he was once alive, but because of the havoc he caused he was turned to stone by the angels.  

Lincoln Cathedral is also the burial place of part of Eleanor of Castile, wife of Edward I.  She died at Harby and her body was brought to Lincoln.  At every stop along the way King Edward I erected a cross in her honor and memory. These were known as Eleanor Crosses, three of which still stand today. This very human and personal gesture is not something we would normally associate with Edward I.  

While some of Queen Eleanor is buried at Lincoln, her body is buried in Westminster Abbey, her heart was buried in Blackfriars, and only her viscera is interred at Lincoln.  This was done so that the body would be able to make the journey back to London without decomposing.

Her effigy is not original but was restored in the 19th century and is a copy of her effigy in Westminster Abbey.

Effigy in the Burghersh Chantry Chapel, founded in 1348 for the souls of the family of Bartholomew Burghersh, a Baron and brother to Henry Burghersh Bishop of Lincoln.

The Chapter House was started in the early 13th century.  In 1536 the leaders of the Lincolnshire Rising, who resisted the Reformation, gathered here to receive Henry VIII’s reply to their demands.

Lincoln is the third largest Cathedral in England.  It was consecrated in 1092, although the structure wasn’t finished until around 1280.  Repairs and remodeling have continued ever since and Lincoln today costs around 1 million pounds a year in upkeep. Much of this goes to the urgent restoration works that are being done.  

Lincoln Cathedral was the first building to ever exceed the height of the Great Pyramid of Giza and in the 1300’s was the world’s tallest structure. Today is it visited by over 250,000 people each year. 

St. Hugh’s Choir dates from the second half of the 14th Century.  Although enlarged in the 19th Century it is still original in part. 

During the war between Stephen and Matilda, Lincoln found itself in the middle of conflict when Matilda’s forces took the castle. At this time Bishop Alexander sent word to the King, who made his way to Lincoln.  The Cathedral being so close to the castle just opposite, the King set his base for the siege from within the Cathedral. I’m sure this was not what the Bishop had in mind but according to William of Malmesbury he, ‘garrisoned it as a fortress.’  It didn’t go well though, as soon afterwards Stephen was captured and Lincoln was plundered.

More information on Lincoln can be found under Lincoln Castle or Lincoln City.