The Cathedral Church of Peterborough

The Cathedral Church of Peterborough, by the Rev. W.D. Sweeting, gives a description of its fabric and a brief history of the episcopal see. The preface says the chief authorities consulted are named in the text and lists, among works that deal with Peterborough alone, Craddock's History, the monographs by Professor Paley and Mr Poole, and the Guide of Canon Davys. The text says Peada the eldest son founded the monastery of Medeshamstede, and that the first Abbot, Saxulf, had been in a high position at court.

The text gives the year as 654 or 655, noting that the date is given differently by different authorities. The text says the church thus built must have been of considerable substance if, as recorded, Peada laid such stones in the foundation of it that eight yoke of oxen could scarce draw one of them, yet it has nevertheless utterly perished. A quoted account says a man read in the newspaper that one Dr Cumberland of Stamford was named to the bishopric of Peterborough, a greater surprise to himself than to anybody else.