HISTORY

There has been a place of worship on the cathedral site since at least the 8th century, although no part of any building survives earlier than the 11th century bishop's chapel.

The medieval cathedral was not monastic: the governing body, known as the Dean and Chapter, were not monks but secular priests who led active lives in the world. They employed the Vicars Choral, a body of clergy who lived a collegiate life in the Vicars Cloister, to sing the daily cathedral services for them.

676	Traditional date of the founding of the diocese of Hereford.
794	Ethelbert, young king of the East Angles, comes to Mercia (western England ) to marry the daughter of King Offa. He is murdered by the order of Offa or of the Queen, and later canonised. Saint Ethelbert's remains are interred in Hereford Cathedral and become the centre of a pilgrim cult. The cathedral is dedicated jointly to Ethelbert and the Virgin Mary.
1020-40	Athelstan, bishop 1015-56, rebuilds the Saxon cathedral.
1055	Hereford Cathedral is destroyed by a Welsh army.
1107-48	The building of the Romanesque ( Norman ) cathedral, much of which survives today.
1282	Thomas Cantilupe, bishop of Hereford , dies in Italy while on a visit to the Papal Court . His bones are buried in the Lady chapel in 1283 and transferred to the shrine in the north transept in 1287.
1320	17 April: Thomas Cantilupe is canonised as Saint Thomas of Hereford.
1349	Cantilupe's remains are moved to a new shrine in the Lady chapel.
1538	The Reformation: Saint Thomas 's shrine in the Lady chapel is destroyed.
1640's	1640s The Civil War: Hereford is occupied by Parliamentary forces. Under the Commonwealth, cathedral administrations are abolished and their property confiscated.
1660	Restoration of the monarchy under Charles II: cathedral administrations are also restored.
1786	17 April, Easter Monday: the west front and west tower of the cathedral collapse.
1788-95	Restoration of the cathedral by James Wyatt.
1841-48	Restoration of the cathedral by L.N. Cottingham and Dean John Merewether. The medieval screen and many of the 17th and 18th century monuments are removed.
1858-63	Restoration by Sir George Gilbert Scott. Wrought iron choir screen by Francis Skidmore is installed.
1897-1908	Restoration under Dean James Wentworth Leigh.
1967	The Scott screen is removed. (It was restored at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2001.)
1996	New Library Building to house Mappa Mundi and the Chained Library is opened by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II.

Architectural Dates

1079-95	Bishop's chapel of Saints Katherine and Mary Magdalene.
1107-48	Romanesque (Norman) cathedral: nave, choir, transepts, central and western towers.
1186-98	Eastern transepts and retrochoir.
1220-40	Lady chapel and crypt.
1230-40	New Gothic vault and clerestory in choir.
1240-68	New north transept.
1287	Cantilupe shrine in north transept; inner north porch.
1290-1310	Gothic vaults and windows throughout nave and choir aisles; bishop's tombs in choir aisles.
1319	New central and western towers.
1340-55	Bishop's throne and choir stalls; pulpitum (stone screen at east end of nave).
1340-70	Chapter house.
1389-1404	New south window in south transept.
1412	South-west cloister in progress.
1421-48	New west window in south transept.
1472-75	Vicars Choral cloister.
1480s	Stanbury chapel.
c.1500	Audley chapel.
1518	Booth porch.
1897	Dean Leigh library.
1902-8	New west front.
1996	New library building.

The most comprehensive history of the cathedral is published Hereford Cathedral: a history , edited by Gerald Aylmer and John Tiller, Hambledon Press, 2000, ISBN 1 85285 1945 (available in the Cathedral Shop )

 

 

WHO'S WHO
Clergy
Dean	The Very Reverend Michael Tavinor
	Has the overview of policy and strategy, plus responsibility for fabric and administration
Telephone	01432 374203
Email	Click here

Precentor	The Reverend Canon Andrew Piper
	Has responsibility for music and liturgy
Telephone	01432 266193
Email	Click here

Chancellor	The Reverend Canon Val Hamer
	Has reponsibility for education and pastoral care
Telephone	01432 278672
Email	Click here

Archdeacon	The Venerable John Tiller
	Has oversight of eight of the rural deaneries in the diocese
Telephone	01432 278672
Email	Click here
Lay Members of Chapter
Treasurer	Mrs Rosemary Lording
	Mr Geoffrey John
	Mr Colin Riches
Administration, Support & other non-clerical
Administrator & Chapter Clerk - Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Eames
Telephone	01432 374201
Email	Click here
Office Manager - Miss Christine Field
Telephone	01432 374206
Email	Click here
Organist & Director of Music - Mr Geraint Bowen
Telephone	01432 374238
Email	Click here
Librarian & Cantilupe Institute- Miss Joan Williams
	Has responsibility for the cathedral library and archives, plus some local historical collections. The Cantilupe Institute provides opportunities for exploring connexions between the Christian faith and the world
Telephone	01432 374225
Email	Click here
Dean's Verger - Mr Michael Bayliss
Telephone	01432 374234
Bursar - Post Currently Vacant
Telephone	01432 374221
Email	Click here
Retail Manager - Mrs Alison Chambers
	Has responsibility for the shop and the cloisters cafe
Telephone	01432 374208
Email	Click here
Education & Marketing Manager - Mr Dominic Harbour
	Has responsibility for the Mappa Mundi & Chained Library exhibition, plus press liaison and communications on behalf of the Dean and Chapter
Telephone	01432 374251
Email	Click here
Exhibition Manager - Mr Ken Tomkins
	Has responsibility for managing the team of volunteers who staff the Mappa Mundi and Chained Library exhibition
Telephone	01432 374209
Email
Visits Manager - Mrs Christine Quinto
	Contact for visiting parties to the cathedral
Telephone	01432 374202
Email	Click here
Related Organisations
Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust Secretary - Mr Glyn Morgan
	Has responsibility for raising funds to restore and develop the cathedral fabric, and to support the cathedral's musical tradition
Telephone	01432 271990
Email	Click here
Friends of Hereford Cathedral Secretary - Mrs June Chase
	Founded in 1932 the Friends offer a ministry of welcome to all and are working to beautify the cathedral and its environs
Telephone	01568 720416
Cathedral Schools
Cathedral School Headmaster - Dr Howard Tomlinson
Telephone	01432 363522
Email	Click here
Cathedral Junior School Headmaster - Mr Tim Lowe
Telephone	01432 363511
Email	Click here