When Christopher Somerville set out to explore Britain’s cathedrals, he found his fixed ideas shaken to the roots.
Starting out, he pictured cathedrals in Britain as great unmoving bastions of tradition. But as he journeyed, he discovered buildings and communities that have been in constant upheaval for 1000 years. Here are stories of monarchs and bishops, peasant labourers, rogue saints and holy sinners, the Reformation and two world wars.
With The Times walking correspondent as your guide, make a voyage of discovery across the ages, delving deeper into the private lives, and uncertain futures, of these Ships of Heaven.
Duration: 1 hour