St. Edmundsbury Cathedral

It was an abbey church, then a parish church, and only in 1914 did it become a cathedral, that is, the seat of a redistricted C of E bishop. Though bits, mostly the nave, go back to the Medieval era, much of the church, including the chancel and the roof, was rebuilt in the early 20th century. Relatively few European or British churches or cathedrals were built in one go (e.g., Salisbury or Bourges), but St. Edmundsbury has not stood the test of time, as yet, and was accordingly of less interest to us. We had to walk through the abbey grounds, now the city park and garden, and the cathedral, in order to get to our main goal, the parish church of St. Mary (next post). Nonetheless, there was one item in the cathedral of surpassing interest...

Helpful map of the abbey area

Another representation of how it all might have looked in the good old days;
St. Mary's is at the lower right

In the city park/garden, formerly abbey grounds

Cathedral tomb slabs re-used...up-cycled

New, 20th century roof of St. Edmundsbury; click to enlarge
and see the hovering painted angels

Nave

Surpassing interest department: as a fund-raiser, they're constructing a super-sized
and super-accurate Lego model of the cathedral; complete with maze

 

Yes, we contributed our brick

Not this one though; I'm holding out for Wells or Winchester

Actual helpful model of the cathedral; note mock transepts (they don't really
extend beyond the aisles)

Back to reality: Susanna and the dirty old men

Other glass

Beautiful organ

Chancel, quire, etc.

Beautiful crossing

Each of the parish churches in the diocese contributed a couple cushions

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Pantokrator
and the meaning of the Holy Finger(s) (click to enlarge)

Pancake Eater

Gorgeous font

Moving right along, looking up at the funny faces on the Norman gate/tower,
which the townspeople apparently didn't tear down

Pedestrian signage in Bury is superb