I have always held and am prepared against all evidence to maintain that the cathedral of Lincoln is out and the most precious piece of architecture in the British Isles and roughly speaking worth any two other cathedrals we have.-- John Ruskin
In the late spring of 1092, after twenty years of building work, Bishop of Lincoln Remigius de Fecamp's cathedral was completed.
Remigius de Fecamp was a Benedictine monk who held the position of almoner at Fecamp Abbey in Normandy. He is said to have been a supporter of the conqueror's invasion of England contributing a ship and twenty knights to William's cause, his name appears on a document that listed vessels used in the invasion.
There are many facts that allude to Remigius's early life but no real evidence, however there is a suggestion that he had family connections with the Lincolnshire D'aincourt's whose main residence was Blankney, a village to the south of the city and who held over fifteen manors in the county at this time. An epitaph on a plaque found in the grave of William D'aincourt hints that he was a kinsman of one Remi or Remigius and this is used to justify a connection with no other evidence to back it up, however it is possible that Remigius granted some of the thirteen manors in Lincolnshire to William's father Walter D'aincourt to add to those he held in four other counties.
Bishop Remigius, as he would later be known, had some association with the old Saxon church that now lies under Lincoln Cathedral's foundations, exactly what this was in not known. When this old church was demolished those who once worshiped there were granted the right to hold services in the Morning Chapel of the Cathedral, that is dedicated to St Mary Magdalene. Interestingly this ancient tradition continues today. On Patronal Festival Day those worshiping in the present day St Mary Magdalene walk from the church, across the courtyard, and through the west door of the Cathedral to hold Festival Evensong in the Morning Chapel.
Henry of Huntingdon described Remigius as 'short but great-hearted and very charming' and William of Malmesbury implied that he was a dwarf. However, what he lacked in height he made up for in achievements.
In 1067 Remigius was given the post as Bishop of Dorchester on Thames that was once the capital of Wessex until it was displaced by Winchester. It was the first to become vacant after the conquest - taking up this position would make Remigius the first Norman to be appointed to an English ecclesiastical post.
In the mid 11th century Lincoln was the largest diocese in England and in 1073 Remigius received papal approval to take up his position in the city, and as we have seen his authority and influence may have already preceded him. He was a powerful man, controlling Dorchester as mentioned, Leicester and Lindsey, also included in his portfolio were a number of monasteries, the most wealthy being Ely and Peterborough.
Henry of Huntingdon described Remigius as 'short but great-hearted and very charming' and William of Malmesbury implied that he was a dwarf. However, what he lacked in height he made up for in achievements.
In 1067 Remigius was given the post as Bishop of Dorchester on Thames that was once the capital of Wessex until it was displaced by Winchester. It was the first to become vacant after the conquest - taking up this position would make Remigius the first Norman to be appointed to an English ecclesiastical post.
In the mid 11th century Lincoln was the largest diocese in England and in 1073 Remigius received papal approval to take up his position in the city, and as we have seen his authority and influence may have already preceded him. He was a powerful man, controlling Dorchester as mentioned, Leicester and Lindsey, also included in his portfolio were a number of monasteries, the most wealthy being Ely and Peterborough.
The year 1072 Remigius began work on the construction of Lincoln's Cathedral. The plans of the cathedral are based partly on the design of the Cathedral at Rouen and the Church of St Etienne and it took twenty years to complete. The date set for the consecration was planned for the second week in May 1092, both the 9th and the 11th are said to have been the exact day. According to William of Malmesbury, the astrological horoscope of Robert Bloet, who succeeded Remigius as Bishop of Lincoln, predicted that his predecessor would die prior to the cathedral's consecration, strangely Remigius de Fecamp did indeed pass away as predicted, just under a week before its consecration, on the 7th May in 1092.
Remigius was buried in his cathedral at Lincoln, probably under the Nave, his grave is not marked.
Remigius was buried in his cathedral at Lincoln, probably under the Nave, his grave is not marked.
You can see Remigius's tower in the centre in the west front of the Cathedral
What of Bishop Remigius's cathedral today? There is very little remains of what he would have seen from his deathbed. However, Remigius's tower forms part of the west front of the Cathedral that stands magnificently on what is called Lincoln Edge.
For a time Lincoln Cathedral would be the tallest building in the world, today is the third largest English Cathedral and a splendid example of Gothic architecture.
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