inSPIREd Sunday

Sally hosts inSPIREd Sunday!

May 2010 - Carlisle England

Carlisle's imposing Cathedral occupies a central position in the heart of the ‘historic quarter'. The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, otherwise called Carlisle Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Carlisle.It was founded as an Augustinian priory and became a cathedral in 1133.

The cathedral has been rebuilt several times; once in 1292 after a devastating fire and again in the 14th century. After the Cromwellian victory of 1645, most of the Norman nave was demolished and the stone used to repair the city's walls and castle.

The stone is the local red sandstone, which has discoloured almost to black on parts of the exterior.

The magnificent east window contains some fine 14th-century stained glass. The most significant architectural feature of Carlisle Cathedral is its East Window. The tracery of this window is in the most complex of English Gothic styles, Flowing Decorated Gothic. It is the largest and most complex such window in England, being 51 feet high and 26 feet wide. It has nine lights, and tracery, which, it has been calculated, was drafted from 263 points. The tracery of the window still contains much of its original medieval glass

The present organ was built by Henry Willis in 1856 and was innovative for its date. It was enlarged in 1875 to include the 32 foot pipes. In 1906 it was further extended by Harrison & Harrison. In 1930, the organ was moved to its present position by an unknown builder.

Samuel Waldegrave's tomb

John lay down on the floor to get this shot!

We were pleasantly surprised to see a carved memorial bench bearing the opening lyrics of "Love Me Tender" dedicated to the memory of Jimmy Henshaw.