Ely Cathedral is a historical and architectural guide to the Ely Cathedral, an Anglican cathedral in the city of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England. The cathedral has its roots in AD 672 when St Etheldreda constructed an abbey church. The current building dates back to 1083, and it was granted cathedral status in 1109. Excerpt: "We will now continue our narrative, briefly taking in review the history of the monastery as it is handed down to us. About a.d. 673 Etheldreda commenced the foundation of a monastery for both sexes, and was installed the first abbess; she gave the whole Isle of Ely to the monastery as an endowment, and died a.d. 679. She was succeeded by her elder sister Sexburga, then a widow, who died a.d. 699, and was buried beside her sister in the church of the monastery. Erminilda, daughter of Sexburga, and widow of Wulfure, king of Mercia, next succeeded; and the fourth abbess was Werburga, daughter of Erminilda, the time of whose death is not known. Although St. Etheldreda's monastery continued to enjoy a regular succession of abbesses for nearly two centuries, not a single name of its superiors is preserved; protected by its situation in the midst of waters, it was little molested by external troubles until a.d. 870, when it was destroyed—like that of Peterborough—by the Danes, the monastery burnt, and the inhabitants put to the sword."