Founded as a Benedictine abbey in 1092, our cathedral has rich history, and as you’ll discover, a diverse and exciting future!
Dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, our mission is to celebrate God’s presence. By offering worship and prayer, hospitality, education, and a creative use of our heritage. Our aim is to embrace the community whilst ensuring the survival of this magnificent cathedral for future generations.
The original church was built in the Romanesque or Norman style, parts of which you can still see today. The church was rebuilt from 1250 in Gothic style, taking 275 years and resulting in the incredible structure seen today.
With the most complete set of monastic buildings in the country, a Georgian square and streets, the remains of Roman barracks on the Dean’s field and the largest green space within the walls, which means you can experience everything the cathedral has to offer!
Our Refectory Café is the perfect post-tour stop off, the Gift Shop has beautiful souvenirs to remind you of your visit, including local produce courtesy of the bees in our nature gardens.
We are the largest venue in the city for performances, concerts, and fundraisers, which we host throughout the year. Chester Cathedral is a centre of musical excellence with weekly Organ Recitals and hosting the finest choirs in the country.