OCTOBER 2010:
The Ringers Chapel (Lincoln Cathedral), LINCOLN and St Mary Magdalene, LINCOLN
Our
October meeting was to the Ringers’ Chapel in Lincoln Cathedral.
The chapel is not normally open to the public and we were given a
most informative talk by Les Townsend the Master of the Cathedral
Company of Ringers. We then ascended the staircase which after a
lengthy climb led us to the room (Ringing Chamber) from where the
ringers’ ring the bells. Les then explained the complexities of
change-ringing and how the bells are rung full circle. He also
showed us the Ringers Jack and explained its history. We then went
out on to the west front and were fascinated by the views of the
castle in particular. Les then took us into the roof space over
the nave.
Above
: the roof space over the nave and views from the west front of the
Cathedral.
After
returning to ground level and a short coffee break in the Cathedral
Refectory we moved across to St Mary Magdalene Church, Exchequergate.
The
original Saxon parish church lies buried beneath the Cathedral and
the parishioners had the right to hold services in the Morning Chapel
which is dedicated to St Mary Magdalene. This right is still
exercised on the Patronal Festival Day when the choir and
congregation process from the church to the great west door of the
Cathedral. After festival evensong the congregation process to the
new church which was built circa 1280.
The
medieval church formed the north side of the Chequer which was a
fourteenth century shopping centre belonging to the Dean and Chapter.
There were shop units in archways at each end of the square. One
of the archways (Exchequergate) remains . There were even
commercial premises beneath the church!
Another excellent visit!
Another excellent visit!
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