One of the most common views of the Cathedral is the walk from Market Place through the Penniless Porch. Most people sat there are pleasant, hoping for some small change from tourists. Most visitor
Cathedral makes a 'strong' suggestion that there is no official entrance fee a donation would be grateful received. It's possible to sneak in side from the cathedral shop. There are many websites, books and guides explaining the history, construction and
A walk down St Thomas Street is be best first impression to understand the magnificent of the building. Framed by traditional houses, with oak, beech and Cyprus trees the West side shows the
Colleges
The cathedral of Wells
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=40953
history
The building of the present Wells Cathedral began in 1179/80. The work was orchestrated by Reginald de Bohun, Bishop of Bath between 1174-91. de Bohan's predecessor, Bishop Robert of Lewes (1136-66), found the church at Wells in a decayed state after the Bishop's see was moved from Wells in 1088 to Bath following the death of Bishop Giso. Bishop Robert wanted to give the Dean and Canons under him a new church and Bishop Reginald provided this. The church was dedicated in 1239 eventhough work on it continued until 1260. In 1244/5, after a campaign to reinstate Wells as a Cathedral, the Pope decreed that the Bishop should become the Bishop of Bath and Wells. The Chapter House was begun in 1250. A Chapter House is the place of business of the Dean and Canons who are collectively known as the Chapter. The Chapter House at Wells is octagonal in shape and was finished in 1306. The most amazing sight at Wells are the scissor arches under the the central tower. They were designed in 1338 by the master mason William Joy to help take the weight of the tower that was starting to crack due to extra building work in 1313.
Mini Timeline
1180 Wells Cathedral building begins
Work on Wells Cathedral began in this year. (More Information to follow)
1230 - 1260 Wells Cathedral West Front
Work commenced on the West Front of Wells Cathedral.
Wells Cathedral West Front Started
Building of the West Front of Wells Cathedral was begun.
1239 Wells Cathedral dedication of church
The church at Wells was dedicated in this year, but did not get its status as a Cathedral until 1244.
1244 Bishop of Bath and Wells
The Pope decreed that Wells should be reinstated as a Cathedral and the Bishop became the Bishop of Bath and Wells.
1293 - 1310 Wells Cathedral chapter House begun
The Chapter House and the complicated arangement of steps leading to them were started in this year and were not completed until around 1310.
1310 - 1319 Wells Cathedral Lady Chapel
Work commenced on the Lady Chapel of Wells Cathedral.
1315 - 1322 Wells Cathedral Central Tower
Work commenced on the central tower of Wells Cathedral. This needed strengthening and in 1338, new internal arches were added to support the weight.
1338 Wells Cathedral scissor arches
The Scissor arches were added to prevent the collapse of the central tower.
1365 - 1395 Wells Cathedral South-west Tower
William Wynford was the architect behind the South-west tower of Wells Cathedral.
1425 - 1435 Wells Cathedral North-west Tower
The North-west tower of Wells Cathedral was constructed during this time.
Good Friday's musical performance was offered by the Bath Camerata, directed by Nigel Perrin and organ improvisations with Samuel Hudson. A packed Cathedral heard songs of the Easter season, sung to highest quality by a superb choir of two dozen singers.
Starting with some Part, through a specially commissioned work by MacMillan to Rossini and Tavener, every aspect of tone and harmony was faultless. Playing the Tavener in the Quire added interest to the hymn and singing the Williams at the West End completed a perfect evening of choral works.
Everyone at the Bath Camerata should be praised for their dedication and accomplishments.
A special set of recitals took place every lunchtimes in Holy Week at the far end of the cathedral, in the Lady Chapel. There were a welcome find and everyone involved show by congratulated for the quality of the players, choice of music and excellent reproduction.
Monday was a trio of flute, clarinet and piano playing Finzi, Bach and other sonatas. With poetry on Tuesday, Wednesday was a superb rendition on Mozart's clarinet quintet. Finishing the week with cello quintet playing Telemann, Part and some Bach. Each concert was seemed a perfect midday interlude from the hustle and bustle of sightseeing and shopping. Everyone seemed to enjoy the concerts, a great effort.
These concerts were slightly spoilt by their own success. Too many people tried to cram chairs into the small Lady Chapel (at the east of the Cathedral), it took the first movement for everyone to settle down to hear the wonderful music.
Ignoring a farcical ticketing fiasco, the concert was well attended and well worth the effort. It continues to astound an enthusiastic, but amateur ear, the quality and musicality, Wells Cathedral School choir and orchestra obtains.
Throughout an evening of Pergolesi, Part, Purcell, Palestrina there wasn't a single chord misplaced, beat dropped, or phrasing confused by musicians in their teens or younger; remarkable. Every piece of Easter related was played professionally by the youth orchestra, with the vibe and passion that shows the quality and skills of these players.
If there was a comment, more than a complaint, it was having teenagers sing the Stabat Mater. While the quality of the work could not have been bettered, There is a question of whether people so young can portray the sorrow of a mother seeing the agony of her Son. No matter how small, something slight was missing. As an exercise it worked.
Jonathan Vaugh - organ
Matthew Owens - director
High Sheriff was sworn in at Wells Cathedral. Bridgwater Mercury reported that: Somerset County Council has announced the county's new High Sheriff will be sworn in on Sunday, March 9 at Wells Cathedral.
Anne Maw will take over from David Medlock, who held the position in 2007, as the Queen's representative in Somerset for all matters relating to the justice system and to law and order.
Saving some pennies from the cost of nave seating (£25) opted for the Side Aisle (£7) as an experiment in listening pleasure. There seems to be a trick of waiting to the welcoming applause then making a dash from the nave to aisle sittings, daring the Cathedral's wardens to bounce the offenders.
Everyone's voice, were without exception, perfect. Based around the Holy Week and Easter psalms and hymns shone with the high acoustics of the Cathedral. Sopranos balances the depth of the baritones to produce music that fills every nook and craves of that splendid building.
Sitting on the right with a sideway glance of the soloists and choir started well, but interest does wane as the concert continues. Next time the Sixteen return to Wells, it time to try the back of the church
Coffee in the cloisters wasn't a bad experience. While the new building construction on the West Side slowly progresses the Cloisters cafe and Cathedral shop are accessed on the right when entering the Cathedral or down a signposted builder alley.
Its cafe is on the right and the shop left, giving access back to the Cathedral. With the counter service at the front and on the right there is easy access for the disabled. Bench seating and tables are further into the cafeteria. These were clean and spaced apart as not to disturb other visitors.
Mid morning visit showed a wide selection of snacks and cakes, couldn't tell if home-baked. A pleasant welcome from one of the many staff made ordering a simple task. Coffee was mechanical brewed (2 of 5 stars) was compensated by the surroundings and view on the quad. Although, the mullion windows could do with a clean (who would volunteer for that job).
Cheddar Male Voice Choir. Fabienne Borget (soprano), Rick Bowers (conductor)
Programme includes a selection of items from the Male Voice Choral Repertoire, religious, spiritual, classical and operatic choruses, and modern sings from the shows.
Tickets : £12, £6 Starts at 7pm
Organ Recital - Greg Morris
free - Lunchtime Concert Series
Lunchtime in the Cathedral is not the quiet contemplative oasis to spiritual organ music an evening recital offers. Tourists, visitors and guides produce the same hustle and bustle as experienced outside from people sheltered as the first autumnal rains clouds drift over.
Once inside the Quire most of the chatter further reduced by all but the subdued passage. Greg Morris: Associate Organist followed his introduction by diving into a Bach's Prelude and Fugue (BWV 541?) that sparkled showing Mr Morris skills. He followed with a Triptique by Langlais (good, but not right for the occasion), Bach's Wasserflussen Babylon and finishing with Frank's Choral No3. It was the Frank that filled the Quire - a magnificent piece, superbly played.
Wells' organ dominates the space without over bearing the listener. It is worth an hour of anyone time experience music as composer intended.
Organ Recital - Margaret Phillips
Ticket £8 (Norman Andrew Memorial Recital)
Wells Cathedral Quire is the smaller church with a church at the East side behind the alter, accessed below the organ itself.
Prof. Phillips gave a brief introduction to the recital explaining the six pieces by Buxtehude, Mendelssohn, Parry, Forbes, and Langlais. The Buxtehude's Toccata was impressive, but paled compared to the following Mendelssohn's Sonata that shone against the ornate surrounding of the Quire's masonry. Forbes' modern, bright Haec Dies wasn't expected by the listening novice and pleasant example showing the capabilities of the organ and skilful interpretation by one the country's leading musician.
Three dozen managed to attend on the recital on a glorious September evening. Surprising few considering the quality and reputation of the organist; Dr Margaret Phillips: Professor of Organ at Royal College of Music and founder of the English Organ School and Museum. A comment on the lack of publicity considering the performance. It was well worth the moderate entrance fee.
