Gloucester Cathedral

This is the start of a new year, in which I will try to commit to documenting at least one thing I have learned each day.

I am in England visiting family, and today we didn't do all that much. After a late New Year's Eve, and with nothing much open, we decided to stick close to home.

However, here is what I learned today:

Gloucester Cathedral was begun in 1083 and the nave was finished in 1130. This was (obviously) before electricity, steam power, or even steel, and yet the architecture is beautiful and refined. More impressive, the cathedral is still in excellent shape today. The worn-down marble stairs are a testament to the cathedral's age -- that amazingly strong stone has been buffed away by the constant footsteps of the pious (and the tourist).

Gloucester Cathedral was home to King Henry III's coronation in 1216. Apparently, he was only 9 years old at the time, and the crown was one of his mother's elaborate bracelets. Cute. Though a little scary to have a 9-year-old running the country.

Much more recently, a beautiful gothic passageway at Gloucester was used in filming the Harry Potter movies; it represented a hallway in Hogwarts.

Also, when we got to the Cathedral, it was around 4:45 and almost pitch dark. The cathedral was open, but not lit in many places. There is something wonderful and yet creepy about exploring an almost empty, poorly lit ancient church. You could really feel the sense of those in older times, before electric lights became the norm. The sculptures and tapestries take on a very different look in the semidarkness -- a beauty that is somehow lacking in full light.