England's Other Cathedrals

An illustrated guide to the great English churches that are outside the traditional canons of cathedrals, including Westminster Abbey, Beverley Minster, and Fountains AbbeyThe greatest of England's cathedrals are widely considered the country's finest and most famous buildings. Few people realize, however, that in addition to these outstanding buildings there are many others that share, or once shared, some of that greatness. In Anglo-Saxon times there were many cathedrals that later lost that status; most of their sites can still be visited, and many show something fine or interesting. In the Middle Ages there were many major churches that were or might have become cathedrals, and some were of comparable size and magnificence to those that can be seen today. A few of these still exist; some are in ruins. Moreover, some of the great cathedrals had major predecessor buildings on their sites, and some of these are known from archaeology or illustrations. More recently, from 1836 onwards, a series of new cathedrals arose, both for the Church of England and for other churches—some newly built, others adaptations of existing buildings. In addition, the term "cathedral" has been informally attached to other buildings, often of beauty or importance. This illustrated guide explores these interesting and important buildings