Ely Cathedral to host Thanksgiving Service Published Nov. 12, 2009 By Staff Reports 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs RAF MILDENHALL, England -- The Thanksgiving Service at Ely Cathedral has been a long-standing British-American tradition in East Anglia. The primary focus of the service is on the American Thanksgiving holiday. But, this service is unique in the fact that it invites the British community to come alongside the Americans, not only of the Thanksgiving service, but to celebrate the bonds of friendship that have remained steadfast and strong for so many years. During World War II, American servicemembers often worshipped with the cathedral community and in local parishes while they were assigned to the various bases in East Anglia. About the cathedral: The present cathedral was started by Abbot Simeon (1082 to 1094, brother of Walkelin, the then bishop of Winchester) under William I in 1083. Construction continued under Simeon's successor, Abbot Richard (1100 to 1107). The Anglo-Saxon churchwas demolished, but some of its relics, such as the remains of its benefactors, were moved to the cathedral. The main transepts were built early on, crossingthe nave below a central tower, and are the oldest surviving part of the cathedral. The West Tower was built between 1174 and 1197, and the Romanesque style of the west front overall shows that it was built in the 12th century, with the later addition of the Galilee porch (1198 to 1215). The West Tower is about 215-feet high. Editor's note: History of the cathedral was compiled from www.wikipedia.com.