Cathedral Timeline
| 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. |
Services
| 08:00 | Morning Prayer |
| 13:00 | Holy Communion |
| 17:30 | Choral Evensong |
| 20:00 | The Liturgy of Ascension Day |
A message from the incoming Dean
"As my train trundled over Rochester Bridge on my first visit to the town, I caught a glimpse of the beautiful west end of the Cathedral. I had passed that...
Hidden Treasures, Fresh Expressions wins HLF support
Rochester Cathedral’s “Hidden Treasures, Fresh Expressions” project wins Heritage Lottery Fund support It was announced today that Rochester Cathedral has received initial support* from the Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) for...
