English Cathedrals in Music and Photographs

The Francis Frith Collection contains some superb photographs of Cathedrals across the UK. Images were captured from the 1880s right through to the 1950s, with some wonderful period scenes amongst them. If you are looking for an ideal Christmas present for Grandad, there are prints and photographic books of most major towns and regions of the UK.

Also shown here are recent recordings where available from the choirs (or organs) of each Cathedral or Abbey. Find a local Hotel by clicking the sign:

Clicking on an image will open a new page in Francis Frith's website. These are available to buy; prices are very reasonable for such high quality reproductions and make ideal gifts. you'll also find publications and recordings of the choirs and organs where available from some of the better online retailers.

Bath Abbey website   The last of the great mediaeval churches of England. Built in the centre of the Roman City of Bath, with huge windows and delicate tracery. Publications Historical photographs from Frith Recordings find Recordings of Bath Abbey at Crotchet County: Avon location	Blackburn Cathedral website   One of the New Cathedrals of the late Victorian Era, a compact but attractive building with superb organ and excellent accoustic. Publications Look at Blackburn Cathedral Recordings Christmastide at Blackburn Cathedral find Recordings of Blackburn at Crotchet County: Lancashire location	Bradford Cathedral website   Set in the heart of Yorkshire's industrial region, Publications Historical photographs from Frith Recordings find Recordings of Bradford at Crotchet County: Yorkshire location
Bristol Cathedral website   One of the abbeys elevated to cathedral status, it was absorbed into the reformation sees, and regained its cathedral status in C19. Publications Bristol Cathedral,John Rogan Recordings find Recordings of Bristol at Crotchet County: Avon location	Bury St Edmunds website   The Norman Abbey was built to house the remains of the martyred king Edmund. The later 1503 church of St James became the Parish Church at the dissolution and became Suffolk's mother church in 1914. Publications The Pitkin Guide to St.Edmundsbury... St Edmunds Abbey History by Jocelin of Brakelond Recordings find Recordings of Bury St Edmunds at Crotchet County: Suffolk location	Canterbury Cathedral website   The mother church of England; founded by St Augustine in AD597 and the seat of the Archbishop and leader of the Anglican church. Dr Rowan Williams is the 104th incumbent. Publications Stained Glass of Canterbury Cathedral Historical photographs from Frith Recordings Vierne by David Flood in Canterbury on CD Gregorian Chant from Canterbury Cathedral County: Kent location
Carlisle Cathedral website   Created as a bishopric in C14, much of the nave was destroyed during the Civil War, leaving only 2 bays, retaining a magnificent East end. Publications Pitkin Guide to Carlisle Cathedral Recordings find Recordings from Carlisle at Crotchet County: Cumbria location	Chelmsford Cathedral website   St Mary's church was elevated in C19 to become the cathedral for the county of Essex. Publications Heraldic glass in the south porch... Recordings find Recordings from Chelmsford at Crotchet County: Essex location	Chester Cathedral website   Built of deep red local sandstone, Chester is a magnificent building; was extensively repaired and renovated in C19. Publications The Creation Window Recordings find Recordings from Chester at Crotchet County: Cheshire location
Chichester Cathedral website   The new Norman cathedral was started in 1076 and added to throughout its history. The Cathedral now features some excellent modern art works stained glass and tapestries. Publications Guide to Chichester Cathedral Chichester Cathedral Spire: The Collapse..., by Donald Buttress Recordings Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, Volume 2 Listen to the choir County: West Sussex location	Coventry Cathedral website   Coventry Cathedral has endured much in the century since it was given cathedral status, having been destroyed during a wartime bombing raid. The current modern cathedral was built in the 1960s, at right-angles to the remains of the old building. Publications Pitkin Guide to Coventry Cathedral Pitkin Guide to Coventry Cathedral Recordings find Recordings from Coventry at Crotchet County: Warwickshire location	Derby Cathedral website   With a history stretching back to the 10th century, the church of All Saints became the cathedral for Derbyshire in 1927. Publications Pitkin guide to Derby Cathedral Recordings find Recordings from Derby at Crotchet County: Derbyshire location
Durham Cathedral website   The magnificent romanesque Cathedral dominates both the City and the landscape towering over a loop in the River Wear. Heavily fortified to protect the ravages of Viking and Border raiders, the massive structure has been designated a 'World Heritage Site'. Publications Durham Cathedral: A Short Guide Organs of Durham Cathedral Recordings find Recordings from Durham Cathedral at Crotchet County: Co. Durham location	Ely Cathedral website     An absolute jewel, with magnificent C14 lantern and chapter house. Visible for miles across the Cambridgeshire fens Publications Pitkin Guide to Ely Cathedral History of Ely Cathedral, Boydell Recordings French Organ Music from Ely Cathedral Amner: Cathedral Music Carols from Many Lands County: Cambridgeshire location	Exeter Cathedral website   The imposing Norman towers dating from the early 12th Century were retained when a grandiose rebuilding commenced in 1270. The work took nearly a Century but resulted in a wonderful Cathedral Church in Decorated Gothic style. Publications Pitkin guide to Exeter Cathedral Recordings Dancing Day - Christmas Works from Exeter County: Devon location
Gloucester Cathedral website   Publications Gloucester Cathedral Pitkin guide Misericords of Gloucester Cathedral Recordings Three Choirs sing Taverner, Sanders, etc County: Gloucestershire location	Guildford Cathedral website   Publications Recordings Maunder and Stainer from Guildford Cathedral County: Surrey location	Hereford Cathedral website   Publications Hereford Cathedral by Aylmer Recordings find Recordings from Hereford and the 'Three Choirs' at Crotchet County: Herefordshire location
Lichfield Cathedral website   Publications Recordings Britten Choral works County: Staffordshire location	Lincoln Cathedral website   Publications Lincoln Cathedral, David Cuppleditch Recordings find Recordings from Lincoln at Crotchet County: Lincolnshire location	Liverpool Cathedral website   The huge building towering over the City and the Mersey is Gilbert Scott's masterpiece, with one of the largest organ's in Britain. Not far away is the striking outline of the Roman Catholic Cathedral, like a crown of thorns. The picture above is of the temporary "pro-cathedral". Publications Building of Liverpool, Peter Kennerley Recordings Trumpet & Organ in Liverpool on CD County: Merseyside location
Manchester Cathedral website   Another former Parish church, Manchester Cathedral is built in the strongly coloured sandstone of the region. Publications The Chapel of the Manchester Regiment Recordings Maxwell Davies-Orchestral Works County: Greater Manchester location	Newcastle Cathedral website   Originally the main Parish Church for Newcastle upon Tyne, St Nicholas' Cathedral is topped by the unique lantern on the tower, which is visible from around the City. The Cathedral stands close to the Norman Castle keep and old gatehouse. Publications Misericord Carvings in Newcastle Recordings find Recordings from Newcastle Cathedral at Crotchet County: Tyne & Wear location	Norwich Cathedral website   A fabulous Norman masterpiece built largely of the white limestone imported from Caen in Normandy. The building developed throughout the middle ages to its current form, still based on the Norman layout, including the radiating chapels. Publications Medieval Roof Carvings of Norwich Cathedral Recordings Sacred Choral Works Carols from Norwich County: Norfolk location
Oxford, Christ Church Cathedral website   Christ church cathedral in Oxford also acts as the chapel for what was originally founded as Wolsey College. Famous for its main bell called "Old Tom". Publications Recordings Blow, Purcell from Oxford on CD County: Oxfordshire location	Peterborough Cathedral website   Peterborough is dominated visually by the soaring arches of the West End, with the squat tower in the centre, the Cathedral still dominates the town. Publications History and Antiquities of Peterborough Recordings Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis, Vol 18 County: Cambridgeshire location	Portsmouth Cathedral website   An ancient transitional Gothic buiding from the 14th century, originally an Augustinian Priory, then parish church and consecrated as the Cathedral in the 20th century. Contaisnsome fine stained glass. Publications The Windows of Portsmouth Cathedral Recordings find Recordings from Portsmouth at Crotchet County: Hampshire location
Ripon Cathedral website   A Cathedral that seems larger than the town that surrounds it, Ripon is an Early English gem, set above the river in this Yorkshire market town. Publications Recordings Organ Classics from Ripon Cathedral Te Deum and Jubilate, Vol 4 County: North Yorkshire location	Rochester Cathedral website   Publications Recordings Carols from Rochester on CD Roger Sayer : Rochester organ on CD County: Kent location	St Albans Abbey website   Built close to the site of Britain's first Christian martyrdom, a magnificent Abbey set in open grounds. Publications Recordings find Recordings from St Albans at Crotchet County: Hertfordshire location
St Paul's Cathedral, London website     Wren's great masterpiece needs little introduction; built from 1675- 1710 on the site of the gothic cathedral. At 360ft the dome is one of the highest in the world. Publications The Cathedral Church of London 604-2004 Recordings Showpieces on St Paul's organ Settings of Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis County: Greater London location	Salisbury Cathedral website   Salisbury is the 14th century rebuildingof the Cathedral for Sarum; the previous church having been on the hill at Old Sarum. Publications Recordings find Recordings from Salisbury at Crotchet County: Wiltshire location	Sheffield Cathedral website   Publications Recordings find Recordings from Sheffield Cathedral at Crotchet County: South Yorkshire location
Southwark Cathedral website   Publications Recordings find Recordings from Southwark at Crotchet County: Greater London location	Southwell Minster website   Southwell is a fabulous building set in a small market town. The Cathedral church and its outbuilings are a former monastic foundation. Publications Recordings find Recordings from Southwell Minster at Crotchet County: Nottinghamshire location	Truro Cathedral website   Pearson's masterpiece of Victorian gothic, built around the existing parish church, which forms a part of the new cathedral. Publications Recordings Music for a Cathedral's Year County: Cornwall location
Wakefield Cathedral website   Publications Recordings find Recordings from Wakefield at Crotchet County: West Yorkshire location	Wells Cathedral website   A real gem of mediaeval gothic architecture, with one of the most magnificent West fronts in England. Publications Wells Cathedral: A History The Medieval Stained Glass of Wells Cathedral Organs and Organists of Wells Cathedral Recordings Bernstein; Britten from Wells on CD County: Somerset location	Westminster Abbey website     Westminster is termed a Royal Peculiar and not actually a Cathedral (which denotes the presence of a Bishop's throne). Westminster is the resting place of many of the Kings on England, along with great poets and musicians. Publications Kingdom, Power and Glory: Historical Guide to Westminster Abbey Recordings O for the Wings of a Dove on CD County: Greater London location
Winchester Cathedral website   The first church was built on this site in 648, though the present building was begun around 1079. Publications Pitkin Guide to Winchester Cathedral The Misericords of Winchester Cathedral Recordings find Recordings from Winchester Cathedral at Crotchet County: Hampshire location	Worcester Cathedral website     Publications Pitkin Guide to Worcester Cathedral Recordings Elgar from Worcester on CD Sumsion & Howells from Worcester Joy to the World County: Worcestershire location	York Minster website   The See of the Archbishop of York and one of the major centres of European Christian culture for over 1500 years Publications York Minster: An Architectural History, C.1220-1500 Recordings Christmas at York Minster, by the Minster Choir Wesley, SS - Anthems sung by the Minster Choir find Recordings from York Minster at Crotchet County: North Yorkshire location

If you are looking for a hotel to stay in one of England's Cathedral Cities, Lastminute.com offers excellent deals on some of England's finest hotels. Use the search box below to find a perfect place to stay while you visit English Cathedrals.

City: Check in date: Check out date: Price: Any <£50 <£100 <£150 <£200 <£300 >£300

Have a comment or got a recommendation?
Send me an Email I'd love to hear from you! just mail me

Chris Tradgett