The Christian Church in Norman Britain |
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In 1170 William the Conqueror made his friend Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury, with the job of reforming and organising the English church. William could be hard and ruthless - but he admired and trusted Lanfranc as a monk of great faith and ability.
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Norman arches in Winchester Cathedral |
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The old Saxon diocese (areas under a bishop's care) were changed to make them easier to manage, and a grand new cathedral was built to be the spiritual centre for each. In Winchester the new Norman cathedral still has the biggest nave in Europe and it was built beside the old Saxon building. When it was finished, the bones of Saint Swithun were moved with great ceremony to a new shrine - and then the old building was knocked down. Big new churches were built in every town and village and few of the little Saxon churches have survived. |
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Norman font in Winchester Cathedral |
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| Photographs by Mike Strange |
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