Chester Cathedral
Learn more about this magnificent structure here.
“Jesus said, ‘the water that I shall give will be an inner spring always welling up for eternal life’ ”
— John 4:14
Water of Life [at Chester] Cathedral Sculpture by Broadbent (1994) to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the establishment of the Benedictine Abbey on this site. Learn more here. From the site:
The water feature depicts the encounter between Jesus and the Woman of Samaria, showing their shared bowl overflowing with water. The theme of water also suggests a link to how the Benedictine monks water supply was at the center of the cloister garden.
Close to a millennia has passed since Sir Hugh took his repast here on hallowed grounds. At the time, a young orphan lass was taken under Benedictine wings. She flowed like spring water from the mountains in her starched, unblemished robes. Each morning she and the sisters would travel to the springs to gather water to cook with and serve to the generous gentlemen benefactors . Sir Hugh’s one noble attribute was rising early (for a time;) yet it was only so he could catch a glimpse of the most lovely downcast eyes set in the most flawless of peach complexions in an oval-shaped face.
That oval of perfection haunted his waking moments and tormented him in dreams, where the lass whirled around him, her robes inflaming every nerve ending they touched. Sir Hugh’s state of mind became such that he knew not what was waking and sleeping. His appetite grew, yet no morsel of food could sate his hunger. His dreams became filled with demons who taunted him and laughed at his malady – until the night the demon, Pee-Wee, knelt at his feet.
“Sir, you shall have her if you must, but there is a price that must also be paid. Your soul may never leave these grounds, and you will be tormented by each beautiful untouchable living thing that passes by you forever. Your face will have a permanent smile but your insides will writhe in pain throughout your immortality.”
No sooner had Pee-Wee spoken than Sir Hugh woke. He ran from his mansion to the stables and jumped on the fastest steed’s back, headed to the cathedral. His ham-sized fist boomed against the monastery door until a Sister let him in.
“Where is Young Charlotte?” he said in an even-toned voice.
“Sir Hugh, ’tis the middle of the night. What reason could you have?”
“I’m her father, and she needs to know.”
“Oh my! Shouldn’t we wait until morning?”
“Nay, Sister.”
The Sister held her torch high as they climbed the wide, cool, stone steps to Charlotte’s chambers.
“Begone, Sister.”
The torch faded to darkness as the Sister walked away.
~ ~ ~
Sir Hugh had his way with his daughter. In the morning the Sisters found her lifeless, bruised, and violated body, bloody in her bed. Above her, Sir Hugh, hung by his own belt, cold and dead.
~ ~ ~
He exists at the cathedral still, looking up skirts of choir girls, acolytes, and tourists.
[395 words]
A carving in Chester Cathedral.
Click here for more information.
There was something about the top image that made me want to know more about the cathedral. I’ve mixed fiction with non-fiction and turned the monks into nuns. No offense intended to the actual places or people who have inhabited this place over the ages.
Carrie is the host of The Sunday Muse.
Tao Talk 
A masterful weaving of fact and fiction, Lisa! I am left wanting more, much MORE.
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Helen, I felt the same way when I saw the pic and then went to wiki to see all of the info. I saw that last pic before I seeing what the nickname of the first bigwig in the area was and afterwards I knew I had my story. Thanks, Helen ❤
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An intriguing response to the prompt………well done, Lisa.
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Sherry, as the bits fell out the story emerged. Thank you very much.
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Wow this is beautiful and such a wonderful story Lisa! ❣️
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Cindy, thank you so much for your kind words.
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It’s a pleasure Lisa~! ❤️
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This is a magnificent story with so much history shared too! Wonderful writing Lisa! I love this!
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Carrie, thank you very much. Glad you enjoyed the tale, which really did take on a life of its own.
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That is a great story you built off of that Lisa… great imagination.
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Max, glad you liked it, thank you 🙂
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This is the kind of the story that sticks with you.
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Wyndolyne thank you, and I agree. It feels like a story that needed to be told.
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First of all, what a magnificent structure indeed! I also like your rather dramatic story!
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Thanks much, Christian. A place I’d like to visit one day just to get a vibe on it.
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Lisa, this turned out really good, your hard work rewarded you and us, we readers.
Towards the end, reading, I sensed it would have a gruesome ending. And it did.
Thank you for peeking in on me and for your nice comment.
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p.s. I like happy endings. Yours may approach being gothic?
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Jim thanks for your thoughtful comment, much appreciated.
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Wonderful photos and story…I love that I learned something here!
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Thanks much, Stacy.
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oh chilly. I was hoping for the best….
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Thanks much for reading.
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Incredible story here, Lisa. Doesn’t matter what is fiction and what is fact.
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Thanks much, Sara, and I think it would be hard to separate them here…
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