Winchester Cathedral is one of the world's greatest churches, and arguably England's most magnificent cathedral. Its grandeur is enhanced by its setting in Winchester, a delightful, modest city of broad streets and narrow alleys with history written at every corner, lying in a hollow in the downs in the ancient heart of the southern English countryside.

There has been a Christian place of worship on the site of the present cathedral for nearly two millennia. The first recorded building of a church on this spot was recorded in about AD 169 when Lucius, 'King of the Britons', converted to Christianity. This makes the site of Winchester Cathedral far older than that of Canterbury.

The early church was destroyed and rebuilt several times over the next few hundred years as pagan and Christian warlords fought for control over the area. But by 635, king Kynegils defeated the Saxon king, Cerdic, and destroyed his pagan temple Dagon and laid the foundations on the spot were the present cathedral stands.

Perhaps the most famous king to patron the cathedral was Alfred the Great. The king defeated the Danes and saved the southern half of England from Viking rule. After defeating the Danes, he was crowned King of England in the cathedral and made Winchester his home and capital of the ancient kingdom of Wessex.

The most famous Bishop of the cathedral must surely be St Swithin. He was born in Wessex and educated in the Old Minster (the original site of the present day cathedral). He was named bishop of Winchester in 852 but apart from being remembered for his humility and services to the poor, little else is known about him.

He died on July 2 862 and was buried at his request in the churchyard so that "the sweet rain of heaven may fall upon my grave".

His body was to have been removed for reburial on July 15th 972 following his canonization, but was delayed by violent rain, probably the origin of the superstition that if it rains on St Swithin's day we are in for 40 more wet days. His remains were eventually successfully placed in a splendid shrine in the church. From that moment on, miracles were reported and Winchester became a place of pilgrimage. His relics were moved into the new Norman cathedral in on July 15, 1093. Then, on the night of September 21st, 1538, his shrine was demolished by officers of the reformation. His remains were removed and subsequently lost.

Building of the present day cathedral began in 1079. It was built in the baroque style and the cathedral's diocese once stretched from London to The Channel Islands. Subsequently, it's bishops became men of great influence and wealth, none more so than William of Wykeham twice Chancellor of England, Founder of Winchester College and New College Oxford.

Before the Reformation, the cathedral was home to Benedictine monks. You can still see parts of the remains of the monastic buildings in the Cathedral Close. Central to the life of the monks was the opus dei (the Work of God), the regular offering of prayer, which they sang in the quire. This tradition is still carried on today with songs offered in the morning and at Evensong. The choir stalls are a very magnificent affair and are truly matched by the voices of the choir. Indeed, Winchester Choir is renowned throughout the world for its rendering of ancient church music.

Inside the cathedral you can visit the various chantries, built and patroned by long dead and somewhat forgotten bishops and noble men. Perhaps the most interesting of monuments to be found inside the cathedral is the tomb of Jane Austen. The English novelist was born in the county of Hampshire, living in the county most of her life. She died in Winchester.

For the visitor today, the cathedral offers a glimpse of the power that the great bishops and kings and queens once held in England. Nowadays, the cathedral is now quite a gentile place and is set in beautiful gardens. In summer many visitors and citizens picnic outside in the lovely grounds.