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  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Worcester Cathedral
Cathedral
Cathedral
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Worcester Cathedral

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 County

Worcestershire (6 castles) 

 Categories

 Remains

Excellent remains

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location52.18854,-2.220832 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Worcestershire (6 castles) 

 Categories

 Remains

Excellent remains

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location
52.18854,-2.220832
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
he history of Worcester goes back a long way. In 672, a council of the English Church was held, Worcester became the centre of five new dioceses formed. In the ninth century invasions from the Danes brought fighting to England, but Worcester being on the edge of the conflict escaped without much damage. In 983, Oswald founded a monastery at Worcester under the Benedictine rule, dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin. Wulfstan, in 1040 became a monk at Worcester and made such an impression, he became Bishop of Worcester in 1062. Wulfstan was the only Anglo-Saxon bishop to remain at his post after the Norman Conquest of 1066. In 1084, Wulfstan began rebuilding Worcester Cathedral, starting with the crypt, some of which still survives. He was canonised in 1203. Building work continued for some time, including rebuilding the two western bays of the nave in 1170 and around 1202 the central tower collapsed and there was a serious fire. In 1216, King John was buried at Worcester and he seems to have a devotion to St. Wulfstan. In 1224, Bishop William de Blois built the Lady Chapel, where he was buried when he died in 1236. In the fourteenth century the nave was completely rebuilt apart from the western bays. The central tower and the cloisters were completed built by 1374.

Location

See Also

People

  • Wulfstan (Bishop of Worcester)
  • John (King of England 1199-1216)
  • Clyve, John
  • Wulfstan, (Archbishop of York 1002-23)
  • Baldwin (of Forde, Archbishop of Canterbury)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Places

  • Little Malvern Priory
  • Worcester Castle
  • A .. Z List of Medieval Buildings

Other

  • Worcester

Related Information

  • Timeline of abbey foundations
  • The origin of monasteries
  • The Cistercian order of monks

Related Maps

  • Map of Cathedrals

Related Episodes

Norman Conquest (click here)

Norman Conquest (click here)

Timeline

909

...

Athelm becomes Bishop of Wells

Athelm, later to be Archbishop of Canterbury was consecrated to the see of Wells, by Plegmund, Archbishop of Canterbury and Wereferth, Bishop of Worcester. Athelm started as a monk at Glastonbury Abbey and was the first Bishop of Wells. ¹

957

...

Dunstan returns from exile

Dunstan returned from exile when Eadwig's younger brother Edgar was appointed king of England north of the Thames. Eadwig was unpopular and the nobles chose Edgar as their leader. Edgar recalled Dunstan from exile and made him Bishop of Worcester and London. ¹

983

...

Monastery at Worcester

Oswald founded a Benedictine monastery at Worcester dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin. Oswald became bishop of Worcester upon the recommendation of Dunstan.

1048

...

Aldred founds Monastery at Gloucester

Aldred, bishop of Worcester refounded a monastery at Gloucester. A monastery had already been founded at Gloucester in 681 by Ostric.

1062

September 8

Wulfstan becomes bishop of Worcester

Wulfstan, a monk at Worcester Cathedral from 1040, was recommended for the position of bishop by visiting papal legates.

1069

...

Construction of Worcester Castle

Land from the nearby Cathedral was used to build a new Norman motte and bailey castle on the bank of the River Severn.

1084

...

Worcester Cathedral building begins

Building work starts on Worcester Cathedral. Orchestrated by Bishop Wulfstan. (More Information to follow)

1095

...

Wulfstan dies

Wulfstan was bishop of Worcester. The location of his grave is not known.

1113

June

Worcester Cathedral and Castle damaged by fire

The city of Worcester, its cathedral and castle were damaged by an accidental fire. ¹

1120

...

Worcester Cathedral Chapter-house

Work began on the chapter-house of Worcester Cathedral. ¹

1158

Spring

Henry visits Wulfstan's Shrine

At Easter King Henry II, and his wife Eleanor, visited Worcester Cathedral and placed their crowns on the shrine of Wulfstan, vowing not to wear them again. ¹

1180

August

Baldwin becomes Bishop of Worcester

Baldwin became the Bishop of Worcester after the death of Roger.

1202

...

Worcester Cathedral fire

The devastating fire in this year caused so much damage to the cathedral that the building needed to be rebuilt. ¹

1207

Christmas

John at Worcester

King John visited Worcester and gave funds for the rebuilding of the Cathedral after the devastating fire. ¹

1216

October

King John buried at Worcester

King John's wishes were to be buried at the church at Worcester.This was done and King John's body was placed in a tomb at the centre of the Cathedral. ¹

1375

(to 1395)

Worcester Cathedral major building work

At Worcester Cathedral work progressed on the vaults of the nave and crossing, the west front, north porch and east cloister until 1395. The work was desiged by the master mason John Clyve. ¹

1404

(to 1432)

Worcester Cathedral north and south cloisters

Construction work began on the north and south cloisters of Worcester Cathedral and continued until 1432. ¹

3D Virtual Reconstructions

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Medieval people

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Selection of references used:

  • 1. William Stubbs, The Apostolical Succession in the Church of England, 1865
  • 2. G H Cook, English Cathedrals through the centuries
  • 3. John Harvey, English Cathedrals, 1961
  • 4. John Harvey, The Plantagenets
  • 5. T. Francis Bumpus, The Cathedrals of England and Wales, 1934

    Location

    See Also

    People

    • Wulfstan (Bishop of Worcester)
    • John (King of England 1199-1216)
    • Clyve, John
    • Wulfstan, (Archbishop of York 1002-23)
    • Baldwin (of Forde, Archbishop of Canterbury)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Places

    • Little Malvern Priory
    • Worcester Castle
    • A .. Z List of Medieval Buildings

    Other

    • Worcester

    Related Information

    • Timeline of abbey foundations
    • The origin of monasteries
    • The Cistercian order of monks

    Related Maps

    • Map of Cathedrals
    3D/VR

    Virtual Buildings

    Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past.

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