Salisbury Cathedral, England

The cathedral in Salisbury, England, was built in the 1200s. It was a quick build, only 38 years, though additions, minor and major, have happened over the years. The spire is the tallest in England at 404 feet. 

Salisbury Cathedral

The outside decorations are everywhere. Statues of saints abound, both local saints and historical ones from other lands.

Outer decorations

Front entrance

The West Doors are the main entrance for the church though they are only used for liturgical purposes. Visitors enter from the side.

West doors

Next to the West doors is a tomb that is highly ornate. I'd like a statue of someone weeping over my burial!

Buried in the back

The nave

On the other side of the west door is a model showing how the cathedral was built with workman from every class and trade. A video provides an interesting overview of the history, including how the location was selected. The original cathedral was in Old Sarum near a castle. They had problems with the castle as neighbors and wanted to move. They decided to shoot an arrow and wherever it landed would be the new location. The archer happened to hit a deer that ran off with the arrow, resulting in a much farther distance than anticipated!

Model of the construction

Salisbury Cathedral has the oldest working mechanical clock in the world. It does not have a face with hands but does chime on the hour. As a matter of pride, they keep it in good running order.

Oldest mechanical clock

Regimental colors are on display by the clock.

Battle flags

One of the early bishops from the area, St. Osmond, has a very simple burial vault.

Final resting place of St. Osmond

A more ornate but less fortunate tomb is that of William Longespee. He was the local earl during the cathedral's construction and died suddenly in 1226. There were rumors of murder but nothing substantiated until 1791. Then his tomb was opened and the body of a dead rat was found in his skull! The rat died of arsenic poisoning, so maybe there was something to the rumors after all?

William Longespee's tomb

The main altar is surprising simple.

Looks like we visited at Christmas

The ornate pulpit

A long tapestry shows the Magna Carta, an original of which is on display in the cathedral's chapter house (see below).

Trying to compete with Bayeux?

The cathedral is the home church of the local bishop. The bishop's chair, or cathedra, is much more ornate than the altar. 

Bishop's chair

The bishop's chair is in the Quire, the area of the church where the clergy (priests and canons) sit during services. Their chairs are also fancifully decorated.

Angel and a shy critter

A cricket!

The high altar is a little more decorated than the main altar, but not much more.

High altar

At the eastern end is the Trinity Chapel. Originally Saint Osmond was buried here. 

Trinity Chapel

Nearby I saw an icon of a painter inspired to make an icon!

No infinite regress, please!

One of the interesting customs involves new choir boys. Once they join, their head is bumped seven times on a specific stone as an initiation ritual. The stone has a head-shaped divot. My youngest apparently wants to get in. 

Knocking sense into the boys?

Another ornate tomb is for Sir Richard and Lady Katherine Mompesson from the 1600s.

Mompesson tomb

A weird fact about the cathedral is that it is very close to the water table, only 4 feet or so above it. They can actually measure it. If the water is too high, they cannot play the organ because underground piping will be flooded. The water has gotten high enough to flood the cathedral. A guide showed us how he measures the water level.

Checking the water level

The cathedral has a cloister, an open area with a covered walkway all around. The priests could process rain or shine and had a quiet spot for contemplation.

Cloister

Just off the cloister is the Chapter House. Here, clergy for the cathedral would gather for prayer, instruction, and meetings. The chapter house has eight walls with seats along the walls, including some cushions.

Chapter House

A cushion

The bishop's surprisingly uncushioned spot

The Chapter House displays one of the original copies of the Magna Carta from the 1200s. A computer display lets visitors see the detail of the document. The actual document is sealed in a glass case which is in a small tent to protect it from light. The document is made from sheepskin and the lettering was tattooed on!

Digital copy

King John's seal

On the way out, we saw a statue called Walking Madonna, cast in 1981 by Dame Elisabeth Frink.

Walking Madonna

We left by one of the gates that surround the church.

Heading back to the car

When we arrived, we came in the more famous Saint Anne's Gate, which had school children coming out!

Another gate

Walking through town we saw another, smaller church.

 Not much by comparison