Hardy's Wessex: Salisbury Cathedral Shots

Here's the spot where I entered the Salisbury Cathedral grounds:

Felt obliged to visit Salisbury, especially the Cathedral, because it is Thomas Hardy's model for Melchester in 'Jude the Obscure'.

It's also the seat of the ancient Catholic Sarum rite of Mass which was celebrated in many southern parts of England before the Reformation.

Just read that the Sarum rite of Mass was established by St. Osmund, the Bishop of Salisbury, and Richard Poore in the 11th century:

Had a nice chat with the sashed guides inside the Cathedral.

Like some other Cathedrals I've visited (Canterbury; Rochester; Barcelona etc.), I really enjoyed walking round the courtyard:

Just find Cathedral courtyards great places for reflecting on things:

And here in Salisbury Cathedral courtyard, I found myself recalling how Jude Fawley's aspirations towards the Anglican ministry had been dashed in Melchester (Salisbury).

As I expected, I found the inside of Salisbury Cathedral stunning, although it seemed a bit bare compared with Canterbury Cathedral (I lived in Canterbury, Kent, for four years):

Still, there were some impressive-looking stained glass windows near where one of the original copies of the Magna Carta stands under a canopy:

One of the sashed guides pointed out that the general lack of stained glass windows in Salisbury Cathedral is one of the most noticeable differences from Canterbury Cathedral:

And yet the lack of stained glass windows gave the Salisbury Cathedral a profound, light, airy feel.

And there were some interesting, colourful things to see inside the Cathedral:

Through having read J.B. Bullen's 'Thomas Hardy: The World of His Novels' recently, I've been reminded of a short but significant scene from 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles':  Tess and Angel passing Salisbury Cathedral quickly in the darkness with this symbolising the extinction of their Christian faith.