Extract from
'Magna Britannia - Cambridgeshire' by Daniel & Samuel Lysons,
first published 1808.

ELY, the capital of the isle of that name, though far from populous, lays claim, as being a Bishop's see, to the title of a city: it is situated near the river Ouse, 15 miles from Cambridge and 68 from London. The first origin of the place was the foundation of a monastery by Ethelreda, daughter of Anna, King of the East Angles, near the site of the cathedral: .....

The buildings of Ely are said to have been begun in 673 by Ethelreda, who became herself the first abbess, died in the year 679, and was canonized as a saint. A town by degrees grew about the monastery, and both were in a flourishing condition, when the Danes, in the year 870, having entered the isle, marched directly to Ely, plundered the town and convent, and set fire to both, having first massacred the religious, both men and women, excepting a few who escaped by flight. .....

In the year 1109, Ely was made a Bishop's see; on this event, the manors belonging to the church, were divided by the Bishop between himself and the monks: he appears to have taken by far the larger share; the unequal division was much complained of by the monks. ....

Ely contains two parishes; that of the Holy Trinity, and St. Mary's. The beautiful chapel of St. Mary in the cathedral, has been appropriated as the parochial church for the ormer; the congregation of both parishes, after having heard divine service in their respective churches, go to hear a sermon in the cathedral. ....

(In a section titled 'Ecclesiastical Division and Jurisdiction', the following is given : )

In the year 1108, a bishopric was founded at Ely; and the whole of the county of Cambridge, with the exception of a few parishes, ... was added to the isle of Ely, to constitute a diocese for the new bishop.

The diocese of Ely is divided into 8 deaneries ...

The number of parishes ... appears to be 165 :

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