Sinner who created beautiful cathedral

June 21, 2004

LOSINGA CRESCENT (AYLSHAM ROAD)

THE man who built Norwich Cathedral was a sinner . . . a man who had to go to Rome during 1093 to seek forgiveness.

CREATION: Norwich Cathedral and Herbert de Losinga's tomb.

Herbert de Losinga had struggled with his conscience for two years since paying out £1,000 for the privilege of being appointed Bishop of Thetford.
The fact he coughed up the money was the “sin of Simony” according to the law of the church. And it troubled him. At the time Italy was in turmoil but Herbert managed to get to see French Pope Urban who, like himself, had been a former monk.

He surrendered his ring and staff to the Pope, who absolved him, restored him to office, but imposed a penance upon him. Herbert was given permission to transfer the seat of his bishopric from Thetford to Norwich and told to go back to England and build churches and monasteries across East Anglia. And he did just that.

Herbert founded the parish church of St Margaret, and the Priory Church of St Mary Magdalen at King’s Lynn, and the Church of St Nicholas at Great Yarmouth.

St Nicholas, the patron saint of fishermen, was one of the largest parish churches in England and during its monastic period it contained 17 chapels used by 16 guilds.

It was in Norwich where Herbert decided to build a new cathedral on a suitable site in a meadow, called Cowholme close to the River Wensum.
He persuaded several nobles, including the powerful Roger Bigod, to support his massive project and obtained substantial grants from them.
The building of the cathedral started in 1096 and Herbert laid the foundation stone himself. It was the start of the biggest building project ever undertaken in Norfolk.

The labour force was enormous and not entirely made up of volunteers. To inspire everybody to work harder Herbert issued a written admonition that read: “Pluck up heart once more; lift up the hands that hang down and strengthen feeble knees. Persist untiringly in your work, let not your hand and foot rest.”

The cost of the building was partly raised from Herbert’s own purse and partly from monks specially trained to persuade people to part with their money. The cathedral itself was built mainly of flint and rubble, faced with stone brought from Caen in Normandy. This was shipped from the continent in galleys which sailed up the Wensum and then along a specially built canal.
After five years of toil enough of the building was completed for a dedication to take place in September of 1101.

Herbert, the first Bishop of Norwich, held the position for 28 years when he died at his city palace at the age of 65 in July 1119. Revered for his good deeds he was interred before the High Altar in the cathedral he founded. He is now remembered by a 17th century black slab and he lies at rest in front of the High Altar. We forgive him for his sins.

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