Hereford
Saturday morning shoppers had popped
in to join a service in the Lady Chapel. Its liturgy echoed throughout the east
end of the church.
Hereford’s prominent single central
tower was funded by a deluge of money coming in from pilgrims visiting the shrine
of Bishop Thomas Cantiloupe who was beatified in 1320. The veneration of
saints, and pilgrimages to the interment sites of a saint’s relics, were widespread.
A church in possession of the relics of a popular saint enjoyed a source of
income, as the faithful made donations in the hope that they might receive
spiritual aid.
Like Gloucester, down the road, it
began as a Saxon Church until the Normans moved in. There is some exciting
Early English work and important Gothic in the North Transept. More recently my
artist-hero John Piper has been hard at work here contributing three
tapestries.
Extract from my new book, English Cathedrals capturing the wonder of these very special places in 60 exciting drawings. Order via http://bit.ly/2tbCoE
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Thank you very much for your comments - Tim