Last summer I had the good fortune to visit Salisbury Cathedral twice. I've visited long ago, but I particularly enjoyed my visits in 2018 because on both occasions, the organ and choir were in full voice, once in rehearsal, the other time during a service.
The photo above was taken in the Cathedral Close in May, while that below was taken in mid July. Note how the lawn dried out in the torrid summer of 2018 in the UK.
The Cathedral was begun in 1220 and completed in a mere thirty-eight years, an amazing feat. The West Facade includes more than seventy statues, making a striking invitation to enter.
Facade of Salisbury Cathedral
The nave is unusually tall and narrow, and the ceilings have been repainted to approximate the appearance in the thirteenth century.
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Cloisters were added in 1240.
Above, entering the Chapter House, built in 1263. It exhibits one of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta, the document signed by King John in 1215 which acknowledges his sharing of power with the nobles. As one of the foundations of democracy, it is revered throughout the world.
This reproduction of the original shows what it looks like; to protect it, very low light is available and no photographs are allowed.
The windows of the Chapter House, however, are particularly beautiful in the sunshine.
The Salisbury spire is the tallest Church spire in the UK. I cannot resist including a few versions, below, of views of the Cathedral painted by the celebrated English artist John Constable, RA, (1776-1837). He painted the Cathedral from various viewpoints many times. Note the importance of the art museums in which they hang.
1823, Victoria & Albert Museum, London
1831, Tate Britain
1820, National Gallery, London
c. 1825, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
1825, Frick Museum, New York
1820, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
And there are more! What more perfect picture of England than these could you imagine?
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