Southwell Minster

Southwell Minster stands in the small Nottinghamshire town of Southwell. It is a Church of England cathedral and the mother church of the diocese of Southwell and Nottingham. The present building succeeds an earlier church founded in 956 by Oskytel, archbishop of York. Much of the fabric dates from between 1108 and about 1150, built in the Romanesque style. The chancel was rebuilt in the 13th century in the Early English Gothic style. The octagonal chapter house, added in 1288, is noted for its finely carved foliage. The minster’s history includes royal connections. Charles I surrendered to Scottish troops here in 1646 during the English Civil War. Earlier, in 1711, lightning struck the southwest spire, damaging the nave and its furnishings. The Newstead lectern, rescued from a fishpond at Newstead Abbey, was given to the minster in 1805. The Flemish glass panels in the east window were acquired in Paris and installed in 1818. Inside, the nave shows the severe Romanesce design with short circular columns and scalloped capitals. The aisles lead to the transepts and central tower, all from the 12th century. The chapter house’s vaulted ceiling and naturalistic carvings remain exceptional. The choir draws singers from the nearby school linked to the minster. Outside, the ruined archbishop’s palace stands next to the cathedral, recalling its medieval role.