One of the group of English cathedrals which developed from a monastery church, Chester Cathedral has had an unusually long and complex history. The Benedictine monks who lived and worshipped here for many hundreds of years have left clear evidence of their way of life, from the superb choir stalls and the impressive refectory, to the Chester Imp, carved high up in the nave, which guarded them from demons.Their church, gradually rebuilt in the Gothic style from the mid-12th century, was reconstituted as a cathedral by Henry VIII in 1540. Instead of falling into disrepair, the 'old' monastery became the 'new' cathedral and what we see here today is one of England's finest examples of a monastic complex, sprawling over a quarter of the area of the medieval town. This handsome full-colour souvenir guide, illustrated throughout with specially commissioned photography, tells the history of the Cathedral, both as building and as Christian community, and takes the reader on a journey of discovery through this historic and evocative place.
