England
Cheshire

Cheshire Travel Guide - Historic Churches

Chester Cathedral    Here is a church which suffers much from the well-intentioned efforts of Victorian restorers. Chester was originally built by Saxon canons in the name of Saint Werburgh, a lady whose claim to sainthood was not harmed by having three Saxon kings as relatives. The church was raised to cathedral status by Henry VIII. In the interim the church gained magnificent woodcarving in the choirstalls (about 1380). Look closely at the carvings on the misericords and bench ends; aside from the obvious (St. Werburgh), there are details of Arthurian legend, Aesop's fables, and fabulous mythical beasts. At the shrine to St. Werburgh you can see the niches where medieval sufferers rested their heads while spending the night in a prayer for healing. 12 Abbey Square, Chester, Cheshire, England, CH1 2HU Attraction Type: Cathedral Website: Chester Cathedral Phone: 01244 324 756 Fax: 01244 341 110 Location map Details of Chester Cathedral OS SJ405 666 Heritage Highlight: 14th century carvings in the choir stalls Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Chester, St John the Baptist Church    One of the finest pre-Conquest churches in England, and the most impressive Norman church in Cheshire, St John the Baptist was founded in 689 AD by AEthelred, King of Mercia, as a Saxon Minster church. AEthelred probably reused the site of a much earlier Romano-Chritian shrine or church building. The Parish Church of St John the Baptist Chester, Vicar's Lane/Little St John Street Chester, Cheshire, England, CH1 1SN Attraction Type: Church Website: Chester, St John the Baptist Church Phone: 01244 403634 Fax: 01244 403634 Location map OS SJ408660 Heritage Highlight: Supern 12th century Norman architecture and a history dating to the 7th century Heritage Rating:   ? Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts