The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-23

archbishop, Lanfranc, tore down the
remaining walls of the old building
and erected a fine new church.
A description of the old Saxon
church shows that at the east END OF
the church was a high altar contain
ing the body of st. Winifred. A little
before that was another altar where
mass was said daily. In this, St. AL
phege put the head of st. Swithun and
a number of relics which were
brought from Winchester. Descend
ing from here was the crypt and at
the foot of the steps one could go
down deeper still into vault under
the east end of the church, and at
the east end of this vault was an al
tar enclosing the head of ST. Fursius.
A passage led to the west end. where
the tomb of st. Dunstan was located.
The body OF the church was sepa-
rated from the choir and in the mid
die of the church were two towers
jutting out beyond the walls; the one
on the south had an altar dedicated
north dedicated to ST. Martin. The
end OF the church was adorned with
words spoken by the Blessed Virgin,
and an altar consecrated to her and
containing the head of saint.
Built 1t Over.
Lanfranc built a number of other
buildings around the cathedral and
down the east end and built it over
making it better and more magnifi
cent. The church had a central tower
the nave was supported on either side
by eight pillars and two western tow
ers with gilt ,pinnacles; there was a
rood screen on which was a great cross
with the figures of IS. Mary and John
This church was where Thomas a
Beckett was murdered. In the year
I174 fire broke out again and de-
- 0I1 g- Ia he
pie very angry, and they were mad
dened to such an extent that they
beat upon the walls, tore their hair
and even blasphemed the Lord and
His saints. Work was imm ediately
started on the rebuilding on that part
which was destroyed but not until
1884, thru difficulties was the new
choir finished. In 1904 new pulpit
was added by Prior d Estria and also
a great bell called Thomas. In 1875
Archbishop Sudbury took down the
western transepts and the nave and
began to rebuild them in the Perpen-
dicular style of architecture. The
work continued for some time and
was finished by Archbishop Courtenay.
The beauty and grandeur OF the build
ing was enlarged upon by Archbishop
Arundel and his successor Archbishop
Chicele gave it a library and began
work on the spire on the western
tower. In 1449, a chapel of the Vir-
gin called the Deans Chapel was built
and the great central tower or An
gel Steeple was commenced in 1875.
The Reformation followed and Arch
bishop Cranmer was burned at the
stake at Oxford. AS we know the
fate of the greater number of the
fine cathedrals at the time of the great
Reformation, Canterbury shared with
the rest and the beauty of the inside
of the church was entirely destroyed.
Archbishop Laud tried to restore this
beauty and an excellent altar and
reredos was erected but the Puritans
simply ruined it. After the savagery
was over practically all that was left
was the bare walls for all the affairs
were thrown out. the relics destroyed
and the images broken and scattered
turnout the streets.
When the monarchy was restored,
Bishop Juxon. bishop of London uas