Rochester Cathedral Review

Rochester Cathedral is Englands's 2nd oldest Cathedral and has a rich interesting history. For example, it is where Henry VIII met his 4th wife, Anne of Cleves (hence all the Tudor memorabilia in the Cathedral's shop!) It's also the central setting for Charles Dickens' last (and unfinished novel), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1807). (The town was one of the novelist's favorite places, and there is a memorial to him in Rochester Cathedral.) This Rochester Cathedral Review will cover all the top things to see in the Cathedral, and things to take note of before visiting!

Founded in AD604 by Bishop Justus, Rochester Cathedral is the 2nd oldest English Cathedral, second only to Canterbury Cathedral, with the current building dating back to the 1080s.

It's a beautiful place, and only a few steps up from Rochester High Street (easy walking distance from Rochester train station- definitely worth a visit! For more things to do in Rochester, click here.

• The Guided Tour: Unlike other cathedrals, there is a £7 charge for the guided tour, but it is reasonable and the tour is very interesting. You might even want to do it more than once, as there's no set "Script" and what gets shared depends on the volunteer leading the tour for the day. Unfortunately, it's not held everyday. It lasts around an hour and is around lunch time (usually either 11 am or 2 pm) (There are general and specialist tours e.g. garden tours)
• The Wheel of Fortune: a mural illustrating how fickle fates are. You can be up today and down tomorrow...
• The Organ: The oldest pipes of the current organ date back to an organ from 1791. (It has since been enlarged and modified.)
• Chiming of the clocks: The clock sounds every quarter hour except between 11pm - 6am, during which it only chimes every hour.
• The Grounds: You pass part of the groundst on your way to the toilets (which I must say were wonderfully clean, especially compared to St. Albans which were..... not the best.)
• Music: There are free 30 minute lunch time concerts held periodically through the year (as well as ticketed longer ones.)
• Dickens Memorial: The Cathedral is the central setting for Charles Dickens' last (and unfinished novel), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1807). The town was one of the novelist's favorite places, and the Cathedral has been used as a filming location for some films, including a BBC adaptation of Edwin Drood and Canterbury Tales.

Admission is free (voluntary donation of £5 encouraged.)

• Monday- Friday: 10 am to 6 pm
• Sat: 10 am to 4 pm
• Sun: 12 noon to 4 pm (but crypt cafe and exhibition closed all day)

Rochester Cathedral is sometimes closed for events so check before you go!

Key Events

• AD604: Cathedral was founded
• AD1137: fires destroyed the wooden roof of the nave and damage the quire
• AD1200s: a shrine to the murdered pilgrim, William of Perth, becomes a popular pilgrimage destination
• AD1215: The Cathedral is used by King John's forces during his siege of Rochester Castle (which is just a stone's throw away)
• AD1540: Henry the Eighth (VIII) meets his 4th wife, Anne of Cleves, in Rochester Priory for the first time
• Late 1900s: restoration of the cathedral
• Early 20th century: spire is rebuilt in the original 1340s style

There are daily services (ranging from prayers, communion and evensong.)

Food & Drink

There is a cafe in the 12th century crypt- it's not super Instagrammable (and can be a bit chilly) since it is underground, but it is a nice place for cakes, sandwiches, and hot drinks.

The proceeds go towards keeping the building open- it costs them £5000 a day to maintain it!

Shop

The shop is an open space right a the entrance of the Cathedral. It has some interesting/ nicely designed items- I liked the Tudor series of products which is apt given the connection the cathedral has to Anne of Cleves/ Henry VIII.

There is nowhere to leave large luggage.

Getting There

It is a 35 minutes journey by direct train from central London (London St Pancras), or over an hour direct from London Bridge, to Rochester train station. The Cathedral is about a 5 minute walk from the train station (and only 1 minute away from Rochester High Street where you find independent shops and restaurants.)

Any questions about visiting Rochester Cathedral? Let me know in the comments!