Chelmsford Cathedral

Chelmsford Cathedral is one of the youngest cathedrals in England, and stands at the heart of the newest city. Originally a parish church, the first recorded service dates back to 1223, and the earliest stonework discovered here is from Norman times. In the 15th century, the church was rebuilt to include the tower, parapets and magnificent South porch. Due to feuding during the War of the Roses between the Yorkist Bouchiers and the Lancastrian de Veres who were funding the rebuilding, it took nearly a century to complete. In 1800 workmen digging to open a vault, undermined the building and the whole roof, north and south aisles collapsed. So the central area, paler in colour than the medieval west end, is made of Coade stone. Simon Jenkins said 'Chelmsford is enlivened by its furnishings and patronage of modern art, the most successful in a modern cathedral'. On the north side of the Cathedral, the vestry block whilst looking medieval with its flint wall exterior, is in fact twentieth century. Another 20th century addition which is perhaps easier to spot is the carving of St Peter. He faces Bradwell, where St Cedd originally landed in the seventh century having left Lindisfarne on a mission to bring Christianity to the east coast and founded the chapel which still stands today. How can we tell that this is a modern carving? St Peter holds a Yale key.