The Origins of Ely Cathedral
The story of Ely Cathedral begins in the 7th century, with the foundation of an Anglo-Saxon monastery by St. Etheldreda in 673 AD. Etheldreda, an East Anglian princess, established the monastery on an island in the Fens, which provided a strategic and isolated location for religious life. The site was initially a small chapel, but it would eventually grow to become one of the most important ecclesiastical centers in medieval England.
St. Etheldreda’s death in 679 AD marked the beginning of the monastery’s revered status. She was buried at the site, and her tomb became a place of pilgrimage. In 970, the old Saxon church was replaced by a larger structure, and Ely's significance as a center of Christian faith continued to grow.
The Norman Influence and the Great Rebuilding
The most significant phase in the history of Ely Cathedral began in 1083 under the orders of the Norman bishop, Maurice, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Maurice initiated the construction of a new cathedral on the foundations of the earlier Saxon church, marking the beginning of the cathedral we recognize today.
The design of the cathedral was influenced by Norman architectural style, with its Romanesque elements, thick stone walls, rounded arches, and large, imposing structure. Ely Cathedral was consecrated in 1109, and it became a symbol of the newly established Norman dominance in England.
The cathedral’s most notable architectural feature from this early phase is its powerful central tower. The tower’s size and design were intended to reflect the might and authority of both the church and the new Norman rulers. shutdown123