Wells Cathedral is a Church of

England cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who lives at the adjacent Bishop's Palace.Built between 1175 and 1490, Wells Cathedral has been described as “the most poetic of the English Cathedrals”. Much of the structure is in the Early English style and is greatly enriched by the deeply sculptural nature of the mouldings and the vitality of the carved capitals in a foliate style known as “stiff leaf”. The eastern end has retained much original glass, which is rare in England. The exterior has a splendid Early English façade and a large central tower.The first church was established on the site in 705. Construction of the present building began in the 10th century and was largely complete at the time of its dedication in 1239. It has undergone several expansions and renovations since then and has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building, and Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The west front,

completed c. 1250, has about 300 medieval statues; many of the figures, and their niches, were originally painted and gildedWells Cathedral

Cathedral Church of St. Andrew

Wells Cathedral

Cathedral Church of St. Andrew

The west front, completed c. 1250, has about 300 medieval statues; many of the figures, and their niches, were originally painted and gilded

Wells CathedralLocation Wells, SomersetCountry EnglandDenomination Church of EnglandWebsite www.wellscathedral.org.uk

ArchitectureStyle Gothic (Early English)Years built 1176–1490

Specifications

Length 116.7 m (383 ft)Nave length 49.1 m (161 ft)Choir length 31.4 m (103 ft)Nave width 11.5 m (38 ft)

24.9 m (82 ft) including aislesWidth across transepts 41.1 m (135 ft)Nave height 20.4 m (67 ft)Choir height 20.4 m (67 ft)Number oftowers 3Tower height 48.7 m (160 ft) (crossing)

AdministrationDiocese Bath and Wells (since c.909)Province Canterbury

ClergyBishop(s) Peter PriceDean John Clarke

LaityOrganist(s) Matthew Owens

The ceiling of Wells Cathedral.

Victorian era and restoration

The nave and strainer arches c.1890

The inverted arch in Wells Cathedral, in 2006.

Architecture

Plan, showing the four massive piers of the crossing (centre), the octagonal chapter house (top) and the extended east end(right)The interior of the cathedral is based on three aisles, with stress being placed on horizontal, rather than vertical lines. A unique feature in the crossing are the double pointed inverted arches, known as owl-eyed strainer arches. This unorthodox solution was found by the cathedral mason, William Joy in 1338, to stop the central tower from collapsing when another stage and spire were added to the tower which had been begun in the 13th century. The capitals in the south west arm of the transept include depictions such as a bald-headed man, a man with toothache, a thorn-extractor, and a moral tale: fruit thieves being caught and punished.

The west façade, is 100 feet (30 m) high and 150 feet (46 m) wide with niches for more than 500 medieval figure sculptures of which 300 survive. Between 1975 and 1986 the west front underwent a major cleaning and restoration programme, including Silane coating and Lime treatment for many of the statues.The West front is composed of a yellow stone, inferior oolite, of the middle Jurassic period which came from the Doulting Stone Quarry about 8 miles (13 km) to the East.

Plan, showing the four massive piers of the crossing (centre), the octagonal chapter house (top) and the extended east end(right)

Stained glass

Stained glass at the eastern endWells Cathedral contains one of the most substantial collections of medieval stained glass in England.Many of the windows were damaged by soldiers in 1642 and 1643. The oldest surviving are two windows on the west side of the Chapter House staircase date from 1280–90, and two windows in the south choir aisle which are from 1310–1320. The Lady Chapel range is from 1325–1330, and includes images of local saint Dunstan, however the east window underwent extensive repairs by Thomas Willement in 1845. The choir east window is a fine Jesse Tree, which includes significant silver stain, and is flanked by two windows each side in the clerestory, with large figures of saints, all of which are from 1340–1345

In 2010 a major conservation programme was undertaken on the Jesse window. The 1520 panels in the chapel of St Katherine are attributed to Arnold of Nijmegen and were acquired from the destroyed church of Saint-Jean, Rouen, the last panel was bought in 1953. The large triple lancet to the nave west end was glazed at the expense of Dean Creyghton at a cost of £140 in 1664 and repaired in 1813. The central light was largely replaced to a design by Archibald KeightleyNicholson between 1925–1931. The main north and south transept end windows are by Powell, and were erected in the early 20th century.

Stained glass at the eastern end

Fittings and monuments

The font

"Grotesque" capital showing one man hitting another with a spade. Albumen print, ca. 1876–1895The cathedral contains architectural features and fittings some dating back hundreds of years, and tombs and monuments to bishops and noblemen.The brass lectern in the Lady Chapel is from 1661 and has a moulded stand and foliate crest. In the north transept chapel is a 17th century oak screen with columns, formerly part of cow stalls, with artisan Ionic capitals and cornice, which is set forward over chest tomb of John Godelee. There is a bound oak chest from the 14th century which would have been used to store the Chapter Seal and key documents.

The Bishop's Throne dates from 1340, and has a panelled, canted front and stone doorway, and a deep nodding cusped ogee canopy over it, with 3 stepped statue niches and pinnacles. The throne was restored by Anthony Salvin around 1850. Opposite the throne is a 19th century pulpit, which is octagonal on a coved base with panelledsides, and steps up from the north aisle. The round font in the south transept is from the former Saxon cathedral, it has an arcade of round-headed arches, on a round plinth and a cover made in 1635 cover with heads of putti round sides. The Chapel of St Martin is a memorial to every Somerset man who fell in World War I.

The font

The monuments and tombs include: Bishop Giso, died 1088: Bishop Bytton died 1274: Bishop William of March, died 1302:John Drokensford, died 1329: John Godelee, died 1333: John Middleton, died c1350: Ralph of Shrewsbury, died 1363:Bishop Harewell died 1386: William Bykonyll died c1448: John Bernard, died 1459: Bishop Bekynton, died 1464: John Gunthorpe, died 1498: John Still died 1607:Robert Creyghton died 1672: Bishop Kidder, died 1703: Bishop Hooper, died 1727 and Bishop Harvey died 1894.Two carvings in the West Cloister, now near the gift shop and cafe, have been described as being Sheela na Gigs, however they are not typical and this classification has been challenged.

"Grotesque" capital showing one man hitting another with a spade. Albumen print, ca. 1876–1895

Clock

The clockThe Wells clock, an astronomical clock, is located in the north transept. The surviving mechanism, dated to between 1386 and 1392, was replaced in the 19th century, and was eventually moved to the Science Museum in London, where it continues to operate. It is the second-oldest surviving clock in England.The dial represents a pre-Copernican or geocentric view of the universe, with sun and moon revolving round a central fixed earth, like the astronomical clock at Ottery St Mary. The clock still has its original medieval face. As well as showing the time on a 24 hour dial, it reflects the motion of the sun and the moon, the phases of the moon, and the time since the last new moon

When the clock strikes every quarter, jousting knights move around above the clock and the Quarter jack marks the quarter hours with his heels. The outside clock face, opposite Vicars' Hall, placed there just over seventy years after the interior clock, is driven by the inside mechanism. In 2010 the official clock-winder retired and was replaced by an electric mechanism.

Misericords

The Cathedral has 64 misericords dating from 1330 to 1340, twelve of which were never completed. Although a few represent everyday scenes, such as two goats butting each other and a lamb sucking from a ewe, most have a mythological theme.

LibraryThe cathedral is also famous for its library, which was built in the mid-15th century. Located over the East Cloister, the library holds the Chapter's collection in two rooms, with volumes published before 1800 being held in the Old Library. The library's medieval collection was destroyed during the reformation. The cathedral's earliest records are held in the Muniment Room at the southern end of the Library. The volumes held reflect the Canon's wide-ranging intellectual interests. The collection's core subject is theology, but science, medicine, history, exploration and languages are also well-represented. The library is open to the public at appointed times during summer, with a small exhibition of documents and books.

BellsWells Cathedral has ten bells. These are the heaviest ring of ten bells in the world, with a tenor bell, known as Harewell, that weighs 56.25 long hundredweights (2,858 kg). They are hung for full circle ringing in the English style of Change ringing. These bells are now hung in the South West Tower although originally a small number of bells were hung in the lantern. The oldest bells are the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th that date from 1757 and were made by Abel Rudhall. The 3rd weighs 10 long cwt (510 kg), the 4th 10.75 long cwt (546 kg), the 5th 12.5 long cwt (640 kg), The 7th 20 long cwt (1,000 kg) and the 8th 23 long cwt (1,200 kg). In 1877 bells 9 and 10 were cast by John Taylor & Co. The 9th weighs 32 long cwt (1,600 kg) and the 10th 56 long cwt 1 qtr 14 lb (6,314 lb or 2,864 kg). The 1st and 2nd date from 1891 and were made by Mears & Stainbank. The 1st weighs 7 long cwt 3 qtr 12 lb (880 lb or 399 kg) while the 2nd weighs 9 long cwt 0 qtr 2 lb (1,010 lb or 458 kg). The most recent bell, the 6th, was cast in 1964 also by Mears & Stainbank and weighs 15 long cwt 1 qtr 14 lb (1,722 lb or 781 kg).

Deans of WellsThe Dean of Wells is the head of the Chapter of Wells Cathedral. The current Dean is the Very Revd John Clarke, who lives in The Dean's Lodging, 25 The Liberty, Wells.

Organ and organists

Organ seen from the crossing.The first record of an organ dates from 1310, with a smaller organ, probably for the Lady Chapel, being installed in 1415. In 1620 a new organ, built by Thomas Dallam, was installed at a cost of £398 1s 5d, however this was destroyed by parliamentary soldiers in 1643 and another new organ was built in 1662,which was enlarged in 1786, and again in 1855. In 1909–1910 a new organ was built by Harrison & Harrison with the best parts of old organ retained,and this has been maintained by the same company since.

The first recorded organist of Wells Cathedral was Walter Bagele (or Vageler) in 1416, and the post of organist or assistant organist has been held by over 60 individual since then. The current organist is Matthew Owens who took up the post in 2005. Jonathan Vaughn was appointed as assistant organist in 2007, and the current organ scholars are Sachin Gunga and OwainPark.

Organ seen from the crossing