FEATURE: Exploring the history of iconic Worcester Cathedral

One of the most iconic and instantly recognisable features of the city, Worcester Cathedral is a treasure trove of history and culture.

The history of Worcester Cathedral has its roots in the 7th century, when the Church of St Peter was built some time around 680AD with Tatwine, a Northumbrian priest, appointed its first bishop.

Tatwine died before he could be consecrated, so his successor, Bishop Bosel is considered the first Bishop of Worcester.

The current cathedral which still stands today was built between 1084 and 1504, and encompasses every style of English architecture from Norman to Gothic.

The magnificent church tower is visible across the city, providing the backdrop to some of Worcester's best scenic views.

Having been the seat of the bishopric for more than 1,000 years, the cathedral was served by monks until the Reformation, with St Oswald and St Wulfstan among the notable bishops in that time.

The cathedral is a treasure trove of medieval history, being home to the second largest collection of medieval manuscripts in any cathedral in Britain.

The Cathedral Library contains more than 300 manuscripts and more than 5,000 post-medieval printed books.

There are also magnificent stained glass windows depicting saints and historic figures from throughout history, as well as its medieval cloisters, crypts and chapter house.

It is also the resting place of King John and Prince Arthur, the eldest son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York and older brother of the future King Henry VIII.

King John’s tomb is one of the main attractions of the cathedral, with the king having spent Christmas in Worcester in 1214.

Apparently fond of the city, he stipulated in his will that he wanted to be buried in Worcester Cathedral, between the shrines of St Wulfstan and St Oswald.

King John’s original will, the oldest remaining royal will in England, is still kept in the cathedral library and can be seen by appointment.

The tomb of the famous king, who signed the Magna Carta in 1215 to try and make peace with his unruly barons, is located in front of the high altar.

The Plantagenet badge of three lions is on the tomb, and has the oldest royal effigy in England.

King Henry III is known to have visited his father’s tomb in Worcester, becoming an important benefactor of the cathedral.

Prince Arthur was married to Princess Catherine of Aragon, Henry's future wife, but the two came down with 'sweating sickness' shortly after their marriage at Ludlow Castle.

Catherine survived but Henry died aged just 15, meaning the future Henry VIII became heir to the throne.

Arthur’s chantry is to the right of the High Altar, near the tomb of King John.

There are many heraldic carvings symbolising the various houses such as York, Lancaster and Beaufort.

During the reign of Arthur’s nephew Edward VI, some of the carvings were damaged, but the Chantry itself survived.

Other notable names buried at the cathedral include former Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, who was MP for Bewdley and died in 1947.

The English Civil War also saw the cathedral play a key part, being used to store arms, possibly as early as 1642.

After Worcester declared its allegiance to the crown, Parliamentary troops ransacked the building, smashing stained glass and destroying the organ, along with numerous library books and monuments.

Following the civil war, the belltower was demolished in 1647 and the building used as a prison in the aftermath of the 1651 Battle of Worcester.

Since the 18th century, the cathedral has played its part in the annual Three Choirs Festival, the oldest choral festival in existence.

The festival, held annually in July, rotates between the three counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.

It closely identifies itself with the works of Edward Elgar and Ralph Vaughan Williams, and is believed to have been first held in Gloucester in 1715.

Today Worcester Cathedral is the centre of the Christian community in Worcester, serving the city and attracting thousands of visitors from around the world every year.

Under normal circumstances, the cathedral is open every day, with prayers said or sung in the morning and evening.

The cathedral is currently closed, however, due to the coronavirus crisis.

Despite this, the cathedral has innovated and moved to filming its services and uploading them to the internet, keeping the congregation engaged and connected.

The regular services are being recorded so despite the church being closed, it can continue worshipping during the crisis.

Worcester Cathedral remains a key part of Worcester’s community, hosting regular events throughout the year including graduations from the University of Worcester and the annual Worcester News Christmas Carol Service.

The cathedral is served by Bishop John Inge and Dean of the Cathedral Peter Atkinson. Before becoming Bishop of Worcester in 2008, he was Bishop of Huntingdon in the Diocese of Ely.

Peter Atkinson has served as Dean of the Cathedral since 2007 having previously been a canon residentiary at Chichester Cathedral.