Exeter Cathedral Priory

Exeter Cathedral

Exeter Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter, stands as a prominent Anglican cathedral in the city of Exeter, Devon, England. Its current magnificent structure was largely completed by approximately 1400, and it is celebrated for several remarkable features, including an early collection of misericords, an astronomical clock, and the world's longest uninterrupted medieval stone vaulted ceiling, stretching about 96 meters.

History and Construction

The site of Exeter Cathedral has a long history, with Roman buildings present and a legionary fortress established between 50 and 75 AD. The formal founding of the cathedral, dedicated to Saint Peter, dates to 1050 when Bishop Leofric moved the seat of the bishop of Devon and Cornwall from Crediton, partly to escape potential sea-raids. Initially, a Saxon minster was used as the bishop's seat. The construction of a new cathedral in the Norman style began in 1112, with its official foundation in 1133. However, by 1258, the building was considered outdated, prompting a major rebuilding program in the Decorated Gothic style, which incorporated significant portions of the Norman structure, including the distinctive square towers. The cathedral was built using local stone, including Purbeck Marble. Further development continued, with the completion of the west front and cloister walks by the mid-14th century.

Notable Features and Collections

Exeter Cathedral is rich in architectural and historical treasures. The interior boasts the longest uninterrupted medieval vaulted ceiling in the world, supported by compound piers. Its collection of fifty misericords is the earliest complete set in the United Kingdom, dating from the 13th century and featuring diverse carvings, including the earliest known wooden depiction of an elephant in the UK. The Minstrels' Gallery, dating to around 1360, is unique in English cathedrals, adorned with carved and painted angels playing various medieval instruments. The Astronomical Clock, one of several notable clocks in the region, features an intricate lower dial from 1484 that indicates the hour, sun's position, and moon's phase, accompanied by the Latin motto "Pereunt et imputantur" ("they perish and are reckoned to our account").

The cathedral library holds significant historical collections, most notably the Exeter Book (Exeter Cathedral Library MS 3501), a vital manuscript of Anglo-Saxon poetry. It also preserves around 36 Anglo-Saxon Charters dating from the 10th and 11th centuries. The cathedral's towers house impressive bells, including an 80-hundredweight bourdon bell named Peter in the North Tower, and the South Tower contains one of the world's heaviest peals of 12 bells for change ringing.

Historical Significance and Events

Exeter Cathedral, while not a monastic foundation itself, did experience impacts during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. It suffered damage during the English Civil War, when its cloisters were destroyed. A significant event was the "Baedeker Blitz" during World War II, when an air raid on May 4, 1942, caused substantial damage, including the destruction of the chapel of St James. Many precious artifacts, including ancient glass and important documents, had been removed in anticipation of such attacks. The cathedral has undergone extensive restoration and refurbishment over the centuries, including work by Victorian architect George Gilbert Scott. In more recent times, a sharing agreement was signed in July 2023 for the shared use of the Lady Chapel with Mint Methodist Exeter.