Worcester Cathedral

Further to my post on Edward Elgar (memorial stained glass window, left, based on his composition of Newman's Dream of Gerontius) I thought I would elaborate on this great Anglican Cathedral in Worcester. There was first a Cathedral here, on the banks of the river Severn, as early as 680 when Bosel was consecrated as first Archbishop. Since then the great St Oswald (925-992) built a second larger Abbey Church with a Monastery. Another noteworthy Saint was Wulfstan (1009-1095) who was prior of the Monastery before becoming Bishop in 1062. The crypt is all that remains of St Wulfstan's Cathedral, which was started in 1082. The current building dates from the 12th and 13th Centuries.

It is striking on entering this building; the vastness of the roof vault, the great gothic arches, the sheer distance from one end to the other. Indeed, there is a darkness and mystery to the Cathedral, which must have seemed quite overwhelming as Mass was being said at the distant High Altar (right). It is important to remember that High Masses would have been enriched with music, several ministers, choir members in copes, incense etc etc which all serve to engage the senses. The distance from laity to clergy would have not been a major issue, especially as Low Masses would have been at people's altars where views were unobstructed. One can see where Pugin would have got his great gothic inspiration; the Rood Screen is beautiful!




The long history of the Cathedral once attracted a great many pilgrims, to the shrines of Ss Oswald and Wulfstan, throughout the middle ages. Our own pilgrimage led us to Wulfstan's crypt (left), there being nowhere else to pay our veneration. By the time of the English 'Reformation' the Cathedral was actually a Benedictine Priory, and it was only the monastery which was torn down by Henry VIII (the ruins are still visible by the river). The Abbey Church was preserved and converted into a Cathedral for Secular Clergy, although the Tomb Shrines of Oswald and Wulfstan were destroyed. Between them still lies the tomb and effigy of King John (1167-1216), who is surely most famous from the fables of Robin Hood!? (Which reminds me - I really should write a rant about the ridiculous Islamic portrayal of my Nottingham hero in recent years, resulting in the great Catholic Friar Tuck being eradicated from the story in the latest BBC dramatisation!!!) It is likely that this royal connection, along with Prince Arthur's Chantry (who was Henry VIII's older brother, and first husband of Catherine of Aragon) were the features which preserved the Cathedral from destruction.