Carlisle Cathedral - March 2nd 2024
Jeel Scholarship Fund Pilgrimages into Professions
 

Dorothy and I visited Carlisle on March 2nd and were warmly greeted by James, the Verger.

We usually do a Pilgrim Walk around the Cathedral that we visit but as we were both coming from Scotland we met in the Castle Car Park.  This car park takes caravan parking which Clare and hubby required and it is a 5-minute walk from the Cathedral. The Castle looked worthy of a visit but sadly no time on this occasion.

Now for some trivia, Newcastle upon Tyne is further North of Carlisle so my casual comment to Colin that we were about to visit the most Northern English Cathedral was proven wrong.

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The entrance to the Carlisle Cathedral is splendid and the stone a lovely pink/red. We were shown round by James, the verger, a tour including the beautiful Norman Nave and columns, and of course the famous Victorian ceiling. The Cathedral was started in 1122 and is full of treasures from a 16th century Triptych to beautiful stained-glass windows from the medieval period.

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The Cathedral is free to enter and allows dogs, so Kit and Scout came too. As Dorothy and I were off to communion the backup team went back to the car with the dogs to be bribed with the promise of lunch at the Cathedral Cafe on his return.

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The communion Celebrant informed the small congregation that it was not only St Chad’s Day but also that it was the 57th anniversary of his ordination. Dorothy and I had come across St Chad previously at Lastingham, on the North Yorkshire Moors, where he had established a monastery with one of his brothers, St Cedd. He and his 3 brothers all became priests, but St Chad was responsible for Christianisation of the ancient Kingdom of Mercia. Amazing what one learns at a church service!

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St Chad died at Lichfield Cathedral, where he was the first Bishop, on March 2nd 672. This was one of those what I call “Sheila” moments who used to say “God did that” as Dorothy and I had previously decided that the next Cathedral on our tour after Carlisle was to be Lichfield.

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On the way out we bought cards and had our passports “stickered” at the shop. Cards showing the ceiling make beautiful souvenirs.

“Backup” was waiting for us across the courtyard in the cafe for his well-deserved reward. The toilets are here too.

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An extremely good soup and cheese scone and sandwiches with salad eaten with coffee afterwards can be recommended.

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Carlisle Cathedral is another hidden gem and if you are in the Lake District is worthy of a visit.