Pipe Organs of England - Pipedreams - American Public Media

PAGE 50WEDNESDAY, 16 MAYThe ChurchThe Cathedral Church of the Holy and UndividedTrinity is the Church of England cathedral in thecity of Bristol and is commonly known as BristolCathedral. Founded in 1140, it became the seat ofthe bishop and cathedral of the new Diocese ofBristol in 1542. Located on College Green, acrosswhich its architecture can be seen to advantage,the cathedral presents a harmonious view of tallGothic windows and pinnacled skyline that beliesthe fact that it was constructed over a periodof more than 700 years. Bristol Cathedral wasfounded as St Augustine’s Abbey in 1140. As thename suggests, the monastic precinct housedAugustinian canons. The original abbey church, of which only fragments remain, was constructed between 1140 and 1148 inthe Romanesque style, known in England as Norman. Further stone buildings were erected on the site between 1148 and 1164.The “Elder Lady Chapel” was built around 1220. Between 1298 and 1332 the eastern part of the abbey church was rebuilt in theEnglish Decorated Gothic style. In the mid 15th century, the transept and central tower were constructed. In 1542, Henry VIII andThomas Cranmer raised the building to rank of cathedral of a new Diocese of Bristol. With the 19th century’s Gothic Revival signalingrenewed interest in Britain’s ancient architectural heritage, a new nave, harmonious in style with the eastern end, was addedbetween 1868 and 1877.