What is Exeter Cathedral?
[[File:Exeter Cathedral 2923rw.jpg|thumb| The side of the cathedral ]] [[File:Cathedral of Exeter edit.jpg|thumb|The west front]] [[File:Exeter Cathedral 01.jpg|thumb]] [[File:Exeter cathedral 009.jpg|thumb|Ceiling decoration]] [[File:Exeter Cathedral astronomical clock.jpg|thumb|upright|The astronomical clock]] '''Exeter Cathedral''' is an [[Anglican]] [[cathedral]] in the [[city]] of [[Exeter]], [[Devon]], in the [[South West England|southwest]] of [[England]]. It is the seat of the [[Bishop]] of Exeter. The present building was complete by about 1400, and has the longest uninterrupted vaulted ceiling in England, and other notable features. The cathedral is built in [[Gothic architecture|Gothic style]]. == History == In 1107, William Warelwast, a nephew of [[William I of England|William the Conqueror]], was appointed to the [[:wikt:see|see]], and this was the catalyst for the building of a new cathedral in the [[Norman architecture|Norman]] style. Its official foundation was in 1133, after Warelwast's time, but it took many more years to complete. In 1258 the building was already outmoded, and it was rebuilt in the Decorated [[English Gothic architecture]] style, following the example of nearby [[Salisbury Cathedral]]. However, much of the Norman building was kept, including the two massive square towers and part of the walls. It was constructed entirely of local stone, including [[Purbeck Marble]]. The new cathedral was complete by about 1400, apart from the addition of the [[chapter house]] and [[chantry|chantry chapels]]. === World War II === On 4 May 1942, an early morning [[air raid]] took place over Exeter. The cathedral sustained a direct hit by a large high-explosive bomb on the chapel of St James, completely demolishing it. The muniment room above, three bays of the aisle and two flying buttresses were also destroyed in the blast. The medieval wooden screen opposite the chapel was smashed into many pieces by the blast, but it has been reconstructed and restored.<ref name=LFLT /> Fortunately many of t