Rochester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, is in Rochester, Kent, England. The cathedral is the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Rochester and seat (cathedra) of the Bishop of Rochester, the second oldest bishopric in England after that of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The cathedral, built in the Norman style is a Grade I listed building.
Rochester Cathedral
Rochester Cathedral, main west front
Setts showing the outline of the first building.
The cathedral's Great West Door, with stonework substantially unaltered since Ernulf's time
Rochester is a town in the unitary authority of Medway, in Kent, England. It is at the lowest bridging point of the River Medway, about 30 miles (50 km) from London. The town forms a conurbation with neighbouring towns Chatham, Rainham, Strood and Gillingham. Rochester was a city until losing its status as one in 1998 following the forming of Medway and failing to protect its status as a city. There have been ongoing campaigns to reinstate the city status for Rochester. In 2011 it had a population of 62,982.
Rochester Cathedral viewed from the west at Castle Gardens
Eastgate House, Rochester, Kent
Rochester Castle from across the Medway (engraving, G.F. Sargent c. 1836)
The Guildhall, Rochester