Ely Cathedral Ceiling – Medieval Architecture from a Benedictine Monastery – Catholic Art Print – Catholic Gift – Gift for Priest

Ely Cathedral CeilingMedieval ArchitectureBreathtaking, this ceiling of the Ely Cathedral was meant to inspire the congregation to thoughts of Heaven as they gazed upwards. All the vaults and arches flow towards the star and stained glass of the cupola at the center. Although from this perspective it looks like modern art, this ceiling is Medieval. The church was started in 1081 as a Benedictine monastery and finished about 100 years later. In 1109 it was declared a cathedral. In 1539, King Henry VIII confiscated this monastery, as he had all the monasteries. In the 1540s, reformists destroyed much of the statues, carvings, stained glass and shrines of this stunning place. Fortunately, they did not destroy the ceiling. Even today, the cathedral still stirs visitors with its magnificent beauty, and its alluring ceiling draws their hearts and minds upwards towards the next world. (source: www.elycathedral.org) Photo courtesy and copyright H. Stauffer. ** IMPORTANT ** THE IMAGE IS SMALLER