Welcome to Peterborough Cathedral

Welcome to Peterborough Cathedral. . , The Minster Precincts , The Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew gives its name to Peterborough and is the ancient heart of the city. The Minster Precincts cover the site of a great medieval abbey, the remains of which can still be seen today., For centuries the Abbey was Peterborough's commercial, political and spiritual centre, and the town grew up around it. The Precincts are now home to the Cathedral and Diocesan offices, residences for the Bishop of Peterborough and other clergy, and various flats, offices and houses as well as some attractive green spaces. You are very welcome to explore the Cathedral and Precincts, and you can find out more in the Visitor and Learning Centre., The Face of Peterborough Cathedral , The West Front, 1238 , Completed in 1238, the great West Front is topped in the centre by a statue of St Peter, to whom the Cathedral is dedicated and after whom Peterborough is named., Jesus gave St Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven', and the three great arches invite pilgrims and visitors to enter that kingdom which the building symbolises. The West Front is also called “The Galilee”, because St Peter was a fisherman from Galilee. There is a fisherman's net at St Peter's feet., The Galilee is one of the finest examples of Early English Gothic architecture, and is unique It is wider than the interior to create an illusion of size, and leans out at the top by about 18 inches. The porch in the centre was added in about 1380. The bell tower behind the Galilee was originally one of a pair, and marks the position of an earlier West Front.