| 604AD |
Saxon cathedral built on land donated by King Ethelbert. The Saxon historian Bede tells us that Justus, first Bishop of Rochester, was consecrated here by St Augustine |
| 1082 |
The Benedictine Priory of St Andrew was established by Gundulf (the first Norman Bishop) and remained until the dissolution of the monastery in 1540 |
| 1083 |
The building of the present Nave was begun by Bishop Gundulf, a Benedictine monk from Bec in France |
| 1130 |
The Norman Cathedral was consecrated on Ascension Day. Henry I attended the ceremony |
| 1137c |
Fires destroyed the wooden roof of the Nave and damaged the Quire |
| 1180 |
Work began on re-building in the Gothic style, starting with the Quire |
| 1201 |
William of Perth was murdered nearby. Pilgrims visiting his shrine brought in money to help the monks re-build the cathedral |
| 1200c |
The Presbytery was begun, and roofed in by 1214 |
| 1215 |
The cathedral was plundered when King John held it against the rebel barons. It was later desecrated by Simon de Montfort’s troops when they captured the city |
| 1227 |
The new Quire was consecrated |
| 1240c |
The North Transept was built. The South Transept, originally used as a Lady Chapel, was built a few decades later |
| 1340c |
Hamo de Hythe vaulted the Transepts, raised the central tower and spire, and re-decorated the Quire. The Chapter Library door depicts his soul rising to heaven |
| 1440c |
The present Nave clerestory replaced a smaller Romanesque one, and the Great West window was put in place |
| 1490c |
The present Lady Chapel, the latest part of the cathedral, was enlarged as a Quire for the new-style polyphonic choirs who sang at the Lady Chapel altar in the South Transept |
| 1542 |
A new foundation of a Dean and six Canons was established and the cathedral dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary |
| 1642 |
Cathedral was damaged by Cromwell’s soldiers |
| 1825 |
The South Quire Transept was strengthened by L N Cottingham |
| 1872 |
Major restoration work was carried out by George Gilbert Scott |
| 1904 |
The present tower and spire were dedicated |
| 2004 |
1400th anniversary of the cathedral and the diocese of Rochester. Dedication of the Fresco. More details about the Fresco are available in the Panoramic Tour. |
