Chester Cathedral

An expanse of landscaped grounds and sweeping lawns surrounds the red sandstone exterior walls of Chester Cathedral, smudged black by the residue of emissions from great British industrial enterprise.  A combination of mature trees and newly planted saplings verge the gardens, silent witnesses to the evolution of time.

The development of the Cathedral Gardens, a constantly evolving vista, is being led by Custos Hortorum Philip Hunt, botanist and plantsman. Volunteers are invited to contact Philip if they would like to join the gardening team that maintains this exceptional green space.

As veteran trees pass over into their eternal home, new guardians take their place, planted to enhance the landscape and serve as a backdrop for religious ceremonies such as Easter and Remembrance.

A mass of red poppies (Papaver rhoeas) will emerge in Summer adjacent to the City Walls which frame the eastern boundary of the gardens.  A sanguine meadow will replace Spring bluebells and daffodils to commemorate the start of the First World War and in memory of those who gave their lives for our us.

This young Picia omoreka 'Pendula', unaware that it will grow to a height over 18 metres (60ft) is supported rigidly in its infancy.  In years to come our descendants will marvel at its eminent countenance as its cerulean branches are adorned with festoons of Christmas lights and ornaments.

We are welcomed by the Cathedral's benevolent interior, a vast yet intimate space where tourists, locals and churchgoers absorb the beatitude of this holy community.

From above, the Cathedral floor resembles an intricate embroidery depicting a tiny orchestra of instruments, from which a preponderant arrangement of melody and rhythm ascends to the lofty heights. 

Several hundred liquid measures of detergent have been used to lustrate countless coils of dusky candle smoke which, until recently, masked this decorative and gilded Victorian ceiling.

This ornate canopy, once a blackened arched void, is now illuminated by light from the stained glass windows and is perfectly balanced next to the soft pink sandstone.

A king's eye view from the tower beholds the Cloister Garth, an inner sanctuary enclosed within the providence of the Cathedral Cloister walls.

Inside, softy dappled liquid light filters into the cool cloisters and ripples across the flagstones.

Ancient script of saints covers diamond-shaped glimpses of the Cloister Garth.

Arisaema sikokanium lurks, its spadix cucullate in its spriped spathes, beneath the windows of the shady sun-devoid northern edge of the quadrate.

Regnant fronds of Osmundo regalis purpurea twirl and twist as they unfurl, nurturing their sporangia to scatter invocation, revelation and the subjugation of maleficence.

Tears of exultation from Narcissus Tiandrus 'Thalia' depurate the earth to encourage new growth.

The great and magnificent Rhododendron augustinii with its Ceonothus companion elevate the reflection of the beatific saints.

The spectacular flowers of Embothrium coccineum 'Inca Flame' irradiate adherent onlookers.

Flares of orange and red aspire towards a soaring jet as it etches its path through the celestial blue.

The aureate feather-like leaves of this juvenile deciduous redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Goldrush' filter warm sunshine onto its roots that will, when this sublime specimen reaches optimum height, stand proud from the earth.

Viburnum x carlecephalum, with its heart-shaped fugacious leaves, proliferates a profound fragrance of compassion, empathy and clemency.

Azara microphylla, wrapped in amaranthine foliage, emits a redolence of sweet honey and vanilla.

Stephen Broadbent's Water of Life fountain sits at the centre of the Cloister Garth depicting the life changing encounter between Jesus and the woman of Samaria.  In Jesus' words 'the water that I shall give will be an inner spring always welling up for eternal life'.