Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Durham: A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Espiscopal SeeBygate, Joseph E. (Joseph Emanuel)
Religion
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Durham: A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Espiscopal See
Bygate, Joseph E. (Joseph Emanuel)
Church of England. Diocese of Durham; Durham Cathedral
On Flambard's death in 1128 the see was again left vacant for five
years, but we are told that the monks continued the work and completed
the nave. The portion built by them at this time must of necessity have
been the vaulting and roof, the architectural features of which are
quite in accordance with the date, being late Norman.
Flambard's successor was Galfrid Rufus, who was Bishop from 1133 to
1140.
During his episcopate the chapter-house, which had been commenced by
the monks, was completed. Rufus also replaced the then existing north
and south doorways of the nave, by those standing to-day.
The next bishop, William de St Barbara (1143 to 1152), does not appear
to have added anything to the cathedral. During his time of office the
see was usurped by William Cummin, and building operations were no doubt
neglected through the troubles arising from the usurpation. His
successor, Hugh Pudsey (1153 to 1195) was, however, a great builder;
appointed to the see at a comparatively early age, and, living as he
did, at a time when very great changes were taking place in
architectural style, he was able to carry out a great deal of beautiful
work.
He began to build a Lady Chapel at the east end of the choir, but
although he had made careful preparations, and engaged skilled
architects and workmen, great cracks appeared in the walls before the
work had proceeded far, and the building was stopped. Bishop Pudsey,
taking this as a divine revelation that the work was not pleasing to
God, and the patron S. Cuthbert, abandoned it and commenced another
chapel at the west end of the church, using in its erection the Purbeck
marble bases and columns which he had had prepared for his eastern
chapel. This second attempt was successful and remains to us in that
beautiful and unique specimen of Transitional work, the Galilee Chapel.
Its date may be taken, says Canon Greenwell, "as about the year 1175."
Besides this work Pudsey built the hall and solar now called (at the
top) the "Norman Gallery" of Durham Castle.
Little or nothing further seems to have been done until the translation
of Bishop Poore from the see of Sarum to Durham in 1229. The name of
Bishop Poore is inseparably connected with the building of the present
Salisbury Cathedral, and after his removal to Durham he conceived the
idea of, and made preparations for, commencing the eastern transept of
the Cathedral, which is a special feature of Durham, now known as the
Chapel of the Nine Altars. He was not, however, destined to live to see
his idea carried out.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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