Bury's cathedral was once a minor part of the abbey, but after the Reformation it became the focus of attention. Most of the building is early 16th century, but the 45m-high tower was only completed in 2005, using traditional stone-working techniques. Ask if tours of the tower have resumed. Next to the cathedral is the appealingly ancient Norman Tower, the original entrance to the great abbey church.
The stately crossing is dominated by a vividly coloured vaulted ceiling (completed in 2010 using medieval know-how) and the impressive entrance porch has a tangible Spanish influence, a tribute to Abbot Anselm (1121–48), who decided against making the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and instead built a church dedicated to St James (Santiago in Spanish). This church was the original building from which the cathedral grew. When it's open, the Treasury in the crypt displays the church silver and ornate medieval Bibles.