The Architectural Styles of Canterbury

Cathedral

By Hermógenes Ruiz Ruiz

The Origins of Canterbury Cathedral

• St. Augustine, the 1st Archbishop of Canterbury, arrived on the coast of Kent as a missionary to England in 597 AD.

• He established his seat within the Roman city walls and built the first cathedral there.

Plan of the Cathedral

The Crypt

• 11th Century- the oldest existing part of the Cathedral.

• Early Romanesque in style• The largest of its period in the country

Characteristics of Romanesque Architecture

• Massive, solid, strong

• The building is supported by its walls, or sections of walls called piers (not buttresses)

• Columns (often “paired”)

• Alternation of piers and columns

• Thick walls

Characteristics of Romanesque Architecture

• Semicircular (arched) doors and windows. In Canterbury, we can see the beginnings of the pointed arch.

• Barrel and Groin vaults (as seen here).

• Dark, simplistic interiors

• Small windows

Characteristics of Gothic Architecture

• Use of pointed arch

• Groin vaults• Buttresses and

flying buttresse• Thinner walls• Large windows• Taller buildings• Luminous interiors

Nave of Canterbury CathedralNave of Canterbury Cathedral

Characteristics of Gothic Architecture (Exterior)

• Use of the pointed arch

• Buttresses and flying buttresses

• Large windows

• Thinner walls

• Taller buildings

Other Very Important Elements

• Few people were able to read or write in the Middle Ages

• Paintings and windows told the stories of the Bible and saints in pictures

• Monks could explain them to pilgrims

Romanesque Wall Painting

• Large flat walls lead to murals

• Colorful• Inspired by mosaics

and illuminated manuscripts

• The most popular themes were Christ, Virgin Mary, church’s saint, and scenes from Bible

Gothic Stained Glass

• Stained glass used in large windows

• Illuminated the interior of the cathedral

• Rich in colors• They used Realism,

movement and background landscape

Exterior of the Cathedral

On the left side we can see the characteristics of Gothic style.

On the right side we can see the characteristics of Romanesque style with some Gothic elements.