Why was the Rochester Cathedral built?

Rochester can claim to be the second-oldest earliest cathedral in England after Canterbury. It was founded by King Ethelbert of Kent in AD 604. The Cathedral was personally consecrated by St Augustine and dedicated to St Andrew, the patron saint of monasteries. The first Bishop of Rochester was Justus.

When was Rochester Cathedral built?

An elevated view from the keep of Rochester Castle looking down towards the Cathedral. The present building dates from circa 1180 when Bishop Gundulf rebuilt the Saxon cathedral. The church was consecrated in 1130. In 1080, the secular canons were replaced by a priory of Benedictine monks.

What is Rochester Kent known for?

Rochester comprises numerous important historic buildings, the most prominent of which are the Guildhall, the Corn Exchange, Restoration House, Eastgate House, as well as Rochester Castle and Rochester Cathedral. Many of the town centre’s old buildings date from as early as the 14th century up to the 18th century.

Why is Rochester no longer a city?

The cathedral city of Rochester has lost its city status after eight centuries because of an apparent oversight. The old Rochester-upon-Medway City Council was asked if it wanted to employ charter trustees, who would protect the city’s status. That was deemed unnecessary, resulting in the loss of status.

What was the size of the original Rochester Cathedral?

The walls were made of stone and Roman brick. The original Cathedral had a round end named an ‘Apse.’ The length was about 14 metres (46′ 6″) and the width was about 8.8 metres (29′ 6″) When the Normans invaded England in 1066, Gundulf became the Bishop of Rochester in 1077.

Who was the Bishop of Rochester in 1215?

Gundulf started to design the new Cathedral for Rochester. In 1115, Ernulf was inaugurated as the Bishop of Rochester. In 1137 and 1179, fires engulfed the Cathedral and it was badly damaged. In 1215 the Cathedral was looted, first by King John and then in 1264 by Simon de Monfort’s men when they laid siege to the City.

Who was the first king to be buried in Winchester Cathedral?

This was now the most important royal church in Anglo-Saxon England. It was the burial place for some of the earliest kings of Wessex, including King Alfred the Great. Here too King Cnut, who ruled England and Denmark in the early 11th century, chose to be buried, and was joined by his wife Queen Emma on her death in 1052.

When was the first castle built in Rochester?

It wasn’t until 1088 after the Norman invasion that Rochester had its first stone castle built on the remains of the old Roman Fort. The then King, Rufus asked his Bishop Gundulf, an architect, to build him a stone castle and later a magnificent Cathedral, which is the second oldest in the country.