The external decoration of a cathedral or large church building is often both architectural and pictorial. Decorative architectural devices include columns, pilasters, arcading, cornices, moldings, finials and tracery. The forms taken by these features is one of the clearest indications of the style and date of any particular building. Pictorial elements may include sculpture, painting and mosaic. In general, from the time of the Reformation onwards, apart from necessary repairs so that buildings might remain in use, and the internal adornments of successive generations who wished to be commemorated, there was little building work and only piecemeal restoration. This situation lasted for about 250 years with the fabric of many major cathedrals suffering from neglect. The severity of the problem was demonstrated by the spectacular collapse of the spire of Chichester Cathedral, which suddenly telescoped in on itself in 1861. [2] [4] The nave of Southwark Cathedral was built by Arthur Blomfield in the 1890s.

The term " choir" is used in three distinct ways in relation to cathedrals. As well as the architectural use, it pertains to the choir of "choristers", often men and boys, that sing at the services. It is also the term used for that section of the church where the choir sits, and where choral services take place. In a cathedral or large church, there may be fixed seating in this area, called "choir stalls" which also provided seating for the cathedral clergy and some congregation. The choir stalls are often richly carved and decorated. The bishop's throne or cathedra is often located in this space. The choir may be separated from the nave by a highly decorated screen of wood or stone. The organ which provides music and accompanies the choir may be located on the screen, or may be in the gallery above the choir, or in a transept. Some churches have an organ loft at the west end of the church.

Roberta Smith. "Extreme Artifice Directly From Life (in New York Between the Wars)." New York Times (July 21, 1995), p. C18. W. H. Auden, "Cathedrals, Luxury liners laden with souls, Holding to the East their hulls of stone" Helen Gardner, Fred S Kleiner, Christin J Mamiya, Gardner's Art through the Ages, 2004, Thomson Wadsworth, ISBN 0-15-505090-7

As begun by Alfred the Great in 871 and consolidated under William the Conqueror in 1066, England became a politically unified entity at an earlier date than other European countries. One of the effects was that the units of government, both of church and state, were comparatively large. England was divided into the See of Canterbury and the See of York under two archbishops. During the Medieval period there were no more than 17 bishops, far fewer than the numbers in France and Italy. [4] Rochester Cathedral was a foundation of secular canons from 604 to 1076, then Benedictine until 1540 when it reverted to a secular chapter. Roberta K. Tarbell. "'Florine Stettheimer: Painting and Poetry'; 'Marguerite Zorach: An Art-Filled Life'." Woman's Art Journal 39, no. 1 (2018), pp. 46, 48 n. 7. The drawings were created for the most part under the auspices of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners (1833 onwards) which had succeeded the Board of First Fruits (founded in 1711). Most were initially accumulated in the diocesan registries to which they related, while others passed directly into the custody of the RCB, the charitable trust created after Disestablishment in the 1870s. Over the decades, these have been carefully accessioned and arranged in the RCB Library, founded in 1931. The Baroque Schöntal Abbey at Schöntal, Germany, is a hall church with nave and aisles rising to about the same height.This article has an unclear citation style. The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of citation and footnoting. ( June 2020) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( June 2020) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Cathedrals are also traditionally places of pilgrimage, to which people travel from afar to celebrate certain important feast days or to visit the shrine associated with a particular saint. An extended eastern end is often found at cathedrals where the remains of a saint are interred behind the High Altar. [7] [ bettersourceneeded] Wallert, Arie; Hermens, Erma; Peek, Marja, eds. (1995). Historical painting techniques, materials, and studio practice: preprints of a symposium, University of Leiden, the Netherlands, 26-29 June, 1995. Getty Conservation Institute. ISBN 0-89236-322-3. OCLC 32131812.