On Monday we took the train to Chester to be met by my brother Alan and Chris. Finding a parking spot took quite a while, but after a lucky break we walked only a short distance through the ancient Tudor city to have lunch at a high class restaurant. Unfortunately it was closed on Mondays! However another nearby proved to be just as good, and Chris kindly insisted the bill was all hers.
The medieval cathedral very close by beckoned us to take a look at its vast interior. It was constructed in the 12th century as a Benedictine Abbey in round arched Romanesque tradition, updated in the 13th century when the whole building was gradually dismantled and rebuilt in the then more fashionable Gothic style. In 1541 it was elevated to cathedral status by Henry VIII himself to save it from the destruction he incurred in the dissolution of all the monasteries. Even after all this turbulent history, 12th century and even Roman masonry remain to this day, as well as a set of original fine and intricately carved quire stalls and tabernacles.
As luck would have it we heard a visiting USA choir rehearsing with the organ for evensong, but fortunately the singing did not entice me to stay, as this would not have been possible. The acoustic however was very impressive in that huge space.
