Cathedral Timeline
| 604AD | Saxon cathedral built on land donated by King Ethelbert. The Saxon historian Bede tells us that Justus, first Bishop of Rochester, was consecrated here by St Augustine |
| 1082 | The Benedictine Priory of St Andrew was established by Gundulf (the first Norman Bishop) and remained until the dissolution of the monastery in 1540 |
| 1083 | The building of the present Nave was begun by Bishop Gundulf, a Benedictine monk from Bec in France |
| 1130 | The Norman Cathedral was consecrated on Ascension Day. Henry I attended the ceremony |
| 1137c | Fires destroyed the wooden roof of the Nave and damaged the Quire |
| 1180 | Work began on re-building in the Gothic style, starting with the Quire |
| 1201 | William of Perth was murdered nearby. Pilgrims visiting his shrine brought in money to help the monks re-build the cathedral |
| 1200c | The Presbytery was begun, and roofed in by 1214 |
| 1215 | The cathedral was plundered when King John held it against the rebel barons. It was later desecrated by Simon de Montfort’s troops when they captured the city |
| 1227 | The new Quire was consecrated |
| 1240c | The North Transept was built. The South Transept, originally used as a Lady Chapel, was built a few decades later |
| 1340c | Hamo de Hythe vaulted the Transepts, raised the central tower and spire, and re-decorated the Quire. The Chapter Library door depicts his soul rising to heaven |
| 1440c | The present Nave clerestory replaced a smaller Romanesque one, and the Great West window was put in place |
| 1490c | The present Lady Chapel, the latest part of the cathedral, was enlarged as a Quire for the new-style polyphonic choirs who sang at the Lady Chapel altar in the South Transept |
| 1542 | A new foundation of a Dean and six Canons was established and the cathedral dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary |
| 1642 | Cathedral was damaged by Cromwell’s soldiers |
| 1825 | The South Quire Transept was strengthened by L N Cottingham |
| 1872 | Major restoration work was carried out by George Gilbert Scott |
| 1904 | The present tower and spire were dedicated |
| 2004 | 1400th anniversary of the cathedral and the diocese of Rochester. Dedication of the Fresco. |
Services
Vacancies
Organ Scholarship 2012-2013 The Dean and Chapter of Rochester and the Headmaster of King's School, Rochester, wish to appoint a gap year organ scholar for the academic year 2012-2013. ...
Hidden Treasures, Fresh Expressions wins HLF support
Rochester Cathedral’s “Hidden Treasures, Fresh Expressions” project wins Heritage Lottery Fund support It was announced today that Rochester Cathedral has received initial support* from the Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) for...
