The Catholic Historical Review

This book is admirably successful in fulfilling the aim stated in the title. It is indeed a fascinating and detailed description of the historical development of the English cathedral from the arrival of Christianity in A.D. 314 until the present day. The ten chapters, presented in chronological order, are embellished with ninety illustrations, most of them in colour; and there are also several helpful maps and diagrams. Moreover, all the relevant ecclesiastical terms are clearly defined within their historical context; the reader thus becomes familiar with them and learns to recognize and appreciate their continuing significance in the light of their historical development.

In the first chapter the author takes care to warn the reader that the initial visit to a cathedral may be likened to viewing an iceberg from the deck of a ship because we remain unaware of what goes on in daily life within the precincts where the clergy, the official lay assistants, and workers, as well as a number of volunteers, all work together to maintain the daily religious services as well as the myriad of other essential duties associated with the upkeep of its buildings. His approach to achieving his aim has been by means of posing several fundamental questions, for example by emphasizing the things that the cathedrals had in common and the things that differentiated them from one another.

In 1066, before the Norman Conquest, there were already in existence fifteen cathedrals, the largest being Canterbury and Winchester, both of which were home to a community of monks of the order of St. Benedict. There were also flourishing schools which developed within several of these early cathedral precincts. However, the arrival of the Normans resulted in a number of changes, some of which affected their number and status: Bath and Coventry, for example, two monastic foundations, were both raised to cathedral status. Under Norman rule there were other significant challenges and developments including, among others, the recurring problem of the competing authority of bishops and cathedrals as to their respective rights and privileges.

Among the many topics that the author takes care to explain is the constantly changing role of cathedral officials—deans and canons, for example, in [End Page 405] secular cathedrals and priors and monks in monastic cathedrals. He also discusses in some detail the problems that repeatedly arose concerning the election and appointment of bishops, occasions which frequently found cathedral chapters in conflict with both king and pope. He provides the reader with a tour of the cathedral precinct and includes fascinating details concerning their historical development, for example, the introduction of Lady chapels during the fourteenth century. With regard to cathedral worship he presents the reader with an account of the developing role of music in the liturgy and includes details concerning the introduction and inclusion of organs, choirs, and also of congregational singing. These are followed by a tour of the buildings enclosed within the cathedral precinct, and a description of an average liturgical day in the life of a secular cathedral under its resident canons.

The dramatic and disruptive succession of developments during the Reformation period, in the first half of the sixteenth century under the early Tudors, has been judiciously treated and includes a clear and helpful summary of the frequent changes of authority, of liturgy and ritual which challenged every member of every cathedral chapter and congregation. During this critical period the ten monastic cathedrals were surrendered and refounded in secular form.

The succeeding centuries, up to and including the present day, are judiciously treated in comparable detail including the dramatic consequences of the execution of Charles I and the abolition of the cathedrals with their clergy during the Inter-regnum. The return of the monarchy in 1660 and the renewal of relationships between church and crown led to a new set of relationships which included the reintroduction of services in conformity with the new regime. A period of reconstruction of cathedral buildings and...