St Peter's Cathedral, Lendert

Saint Peter's Cathedral
The Cathedral Priory of Saint Peter and Saint Blaise at Lendert
Location	Lendert-with-Cadell
Country	Great Nortend
Denomination	Church of Nortend
History
Dedication	St Peter, St Blaise
Consecrated	August 1st, 1284
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Style	Gothic
Years built	1111–1322
Administration
Diocese	Lendert and Cadell
Province	Limmes
Clergy
Lord Bishop of Lendert	Cardinal Alan Gough
Bishop of Cadell	Walter Fitzcolling
Prior of Lendert	Henry Finchen
Precentor	Matthew Reedman

St. Peter's Cathedral is a cathedral of the Church of Nortend in the capital city of Lendert-with-Cadell. It is the see of the Lord Bishop of Lendert, in the Diocese of Lendert and Cadell. The Cathedral is formally titled the Cathedral Priory of St. Peter and St. Blaise at Lendert, dedicated to St Peter the Apostle and St Blaise. As a monastic cathedral, the conventual chapter serves as the cathedral chapter, whilst the Bishop of Lendert is also lawfully the Abbot of Lendert. As such, he appoints the Prior, who serves as a Dean of the cathedral chapter.

History

The Cathedral was originally a Benedictine abbey, founded in 800 by Æthelfrey after the death of his father, Hartmold the Great, who was the first Christian king of Nortend. Originally a small house, the abbey expanded and was rebuilt beginning in 922 under the abbot Geselwin, gaining its dedication to St. Blaise, whose relics had passed into the abbey's possession. With the buildings yet unfinished, in 1094, Lendert was besieged by invading forces from Lorecia which severely damaged the abbey buildings and destroyed the nearly completed nave, though the monk's quire and chancel remained mostly intact.

With the rebuilding of the city bringing modern stonemasonry, the entire abbey church was rebuilt in the new Gothic style beginning in 1111. With the increasing wealth and population of Lendert, the Royal Court settled down permanently in Lendert in the early 13th century. Desiring a cathedral in his capital, Eltbold appointed the abbot, Edward de Groive, as bishop in 1284, elevating the abbey into a bishopric by his charter.