View from the Northeast © PE Blanche 2002 The Western doorway © PE Blanche 2002

Only seven years after Augustine landed in Kent, Rochester received its first Bishop, Justus, one of the missionaries sent from Rome with Augustine and subsequently ordained by him. It is probable that the building of the first Church or Cathedral, dedicated to St. Andrew, was started at that time although the building was small, only 42 feet in length, and none of this original structure remains other than foundations which are not visible. The location of the Eastern Apse is shown in bronze in the floor of the Western end of the present Cathedral. The See was almost an extension of Canterbury which is perhaps why there was not more importance placed upon the size of the building. It stood at an important and strategic point on the road to London where the old Roman Watling Street crossed the Medway. The Church was supposedly in very poor condition when the Normans arrived and it was Lanfranc, the great builder of Canterbury Cathedral, who assigned his close friend Gundulph, a Benedictine monk, to go to Rochester and rebuild the Cathedral and establish the Norman presence here in the form of a monastic priory. Much of the Norman design remains at Rochester, particularly the impressive Western front with its Norman doorway. On either side are the statutes of Henry I and his Queen, Matilda. Although little of Gundulph's original construction can be seen as it has been improved and renovated over the centuries. There is a tower located on the North side of the building between the Quire transept and the North Transept which is known as Gundulph's tower and has been preserved over the years with the assistance of the Freeemasons of Kent. It is suggested that this was both used originally for fortification and/or as a bell tower. The Western end of the Norman Crypt built in 1030 remains to which was added a Gothic extension during the time of the construction of the Early English East end of the Cathedral. This Gothic Crypt is probably the finest example in England. The Cathedral is obviously not visited in the same numbers as Canterbury which is perhaps a shame although the normal residents of Canterbury may sometimes question the benefits of the continutal flow of modern pilgrims. At Rochester, the visitors come to see things Dickensian, or the City's Norman Castle which possibly places the Cathedral in third place. If you have the time when visiting Kent, this is a lovely tranquil building and well worth the visit. Additional details of the interior will be added soon.