Editing Worcester Cathedral (section)

==History==
{{see also|History of Worcestershire}}

===Early history===
The cathedral was founded in 680, with a Northumbrian priest, Tatwine, appointed as its first bishop. Tatwine died before he could be consecrated, however, so his successor [[Bosel|Bishop Bosel]] may be regarded as Worcester's first serving bishop.<ref>{{harvnb|Barrow|2013}} electronic edition, loc. 22608</ref> The first cathedral church, dedicated to Saints [[St Peter|Peter]] and [[St Paul|Paul]], was built in this period, but no remains of its architecture survive. The [[crypt]] of the present-day cathedral dates from the 11th century and the time of Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester.

The community associated with the cathedral in the early eighth century included members of various clerical orders.<ref>{{harvnb|Barrow|2013}}, electronic edition, loc. 22614</ref> The cathedral community was regulated along formal monastic lines as a consequence of the Benedictine reforms in the second half of the tenth century (one author gives the time range 974–977; another considers 969 more likely). There is an important connection with [[Fleury Abbey]] in France, as [[Oswald of Worcester|Oswald]], bishop of Worcester from 961 to 992, was professed at Fleury and introduced the monastic rule of Fleury to the monastery that he established at Worcester around the year 966, which was dedicated – as the present cathedral church is – to St. Mary.<ref>{{harvnb|Barrow|2013}} electronic edition, loc. 22626 and 22638; {{harvnb|Knowles|Hadcock|1971|p=81}}; {{harvnb|Braunfels|1972|p=154}}</ref>

===Medieval===
[[File:Worcester Cathedral Cloister, Worcestershire, UK - Diliff.jpg|thumb|left|The medieval cloisters]]
[[Wulfstan (died 1095)|Wulfstan]], bishop of Worcester, was the last surviving Anglo-Saxon bishop, living until 1095. He was later made a saint. The cathedral is the burial place of [[John, King of England|King John]], who died in 1216.

The cathedral [[priory]], one of a number of religious institutions in the city,<ref>{{harvnb|Willis-Bund|Page|1971a}}; {{harvnb|Willis-Bund|Page|1971b}}; {{harvnb|Willis-Bund|Page|1971c}}</ref> was a major landowner and economic force, in both Worcester and the county. Its properties included the priory manor of [[Bromsgrove]].<ref>{{harvnb|Dyer|2000}}</ref> It was a centre of learning, providing schooling, and was associated with hospitals. The Church received a portion of local taxations, and administered [[ecclesiastical law]] as applied to Christian morals, which could result in punishments. It had close political associations with leading gentry and aristocracy. It thus had a central role in the medieval life of the city and county.<ref>{{harvnb|Willis-Bund|Page|1971a}}</ref>

====Relations with the Jewish community of Worcester====
{{more information|Jewish community of Worcester#The Jews in Worcester in the Middle Ages}}
The Diocese was notably hostile to the small Jewish community in Worcester. [[Peter of Blois]] was commissioned by a Bishop of Worcester, probably [[John of Coutances]], to write a significant anti-Judaic treatise ''Against the Perfidy of Jews'' around 1190.<ref>{{harvnb|de Blois|1194}}, {{harvnb|Lazare|1903}}</ref>  [[William de Blois (bishop of Worcester)|William de Blois]], as Bishop of Worcester, imposed particularly strict rules on Jews within the diocese in 1219.<ref>{{harvnb|Vincent|1994|p=217}}</ref> As elsewhere in England, Jews were officially compelled to wear rectangular white badges, supposedly representing tabulae.{{clarify|date=June 2024}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jewish-badge|title=Jewish Badge|website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org|language=en|access-date=20 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106150945/https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jewish-badge|archive-date=6 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In most places, this requirement was waived as long as fines were paid. In addition to enforcing the church laws on wearing badges, Blois tried to impose additional restrictions on [[usury]], and wrote to [[Pope Gregory IX]] in 1229 to ask for better enforcement and further, harsher measures. In response, the Papacy demanded that Christians be prevented from working in Jewish homes, "lest temporal profit be preferred to the zeal of Christ", and insisted on enforcement of the wearing of badges.<ref>{{harvnb|Vincent|1994|p=209}}</ref>

===Dissolution and Reformation===
The priory came to an end with [[Henry VIII of England|King Henry VIII]]'s [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]]. Shortly beforehand, in 1535, the prior [[William More (prior)|William More]] resigned, and was replaced by [[Henry Holbeach]]. More had a reputation for fine living, although his standards seem in line with other senior ecclesiasts of the time. However, there certainly were problems with the administration of the priory, including divisions within the community.<ref>{{harvnb|Thornton|2018|pp=7–8}}</ref>

The Protestant [[Hugh Latimer]] was bishop from 1535, and preached for reform and iconoclasm. He resigned as bishop in 1539, as a result of a theological turn by Henry VIII towards Roman Catholicism, in the [[Thirty-nine Articles#Six Articles (1539)|Six Articles]]. [[John Bell (bishop of Worcester)|John Bell]], a moderate reformer, was bishop from 1539 to 1543, during the period of the priory's dissolution.

In the early 16th century, Worcester had around 40 monks. This declined slightly in the years immediately before 1540, as recruitment seems to have halted. There were 35 Benedictine monks plus the [[Priors of Worcester|Prior]] Holbeach at the time of dissolution, probably 16 January 1540; eleven were immediately given pensions, while the remainder became secular canons in the new Royal College. Holbeach was re-appointed as the first Dean. A further five former monks were pensioned from the college in July 1540.<ref>{{harvnb|Thornton|2018}}</ref>

The former monastic library of Worcester contained a considerable number of manuscripts which are now scattered over, among other libraries, [[Cambridge University Library|Cambridge]], London ([[British Library]]), Oxford ([[Bodleian Library|Bodleian]]), and the Cathedral library at Worcester of today.<ref name="Ker205">{{harvnb|Ker|1964|pp=205–215}}</ref> Remains of the priory dating from the 12th and 13th centuries can still be seen.

John Bell's successor as bishop, [[Nicholas Heath]], was religiously much more conservative and Catholic.

===Civil War===
{{more information|Worcestershire in the English Civil War}}
During the [[English Civil War|Civil War]], the cathedral was used to store arms, possibly as early as September 1642.<ref>{{harvnb|Atkin|2004|p=50}}</ref> Worcester declared itself for the Crown and was quickly occupied by extra [[Royalist]] forces, who were using the building to store munitions when the [[Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex|Earl of Essex]] briefly retook the city after a skirmish on its outskirts. The Parliamentary troops then ransacked the Cathedral building. Stained glass was smashed and the organ destroyed, along with library books and monuments.<ref>{{harvnb|Atkin|2004|pp=52–53}}</ref>

The See was abolished during the [[Commonwealth of England|Commonwealth]] and the [[The Protectorate|Protectorate]], approximately 1646–1660.<ref>{{harvnb|King|1968|pp=523–537}}</ref> The bell tower was demolished in 1647 and the building used as a prison in the aftermath of the 1651 battle.<ref>{{harvnb|Atkin|2004|pp=52–53}} and {{harvnb|Atkin|2004|p=133}}</ref>

===Victorian to present===

In the 1860s, the cathedral was subject to [[Victorian restoration|major restoration work]] planned by [[George Gilbert Scott|Sir George Gilbert Scott]] and A. E. Perkins.

An image of the cathedral's west facade appeared on the reverse of the Series E British [[British banknotes|£20 note]] commemorating Sir Edward Elgar, issued between 1999 and 2007, remaining in circulation as legal tender until 30 June 2010.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/archive/Documents/historicpubs/news/2010/024.pdf|quote=The Elgar notes are being withdrawn under authority given to the Bank by virtue of Section 1 (5) of the Currency and Banknotes Act 1954. The Elgar £20 banknote was first issued on 22 June 1999 |agency=Bank of England |title=Withdrawal of Elgar £20 Note |date=2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815211956/http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/archive/Documents/historicpubs/news/2010/024.pdf|archive-date=15 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/Pages/withdrawn/default.aspx|title=£20 Sir Edward Elgar (Introduction 22.06.1999 - Withdrawal 30.06.2010)|website=Withdrawn bank notes|publisher=Bank of England|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729164248/http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/BANKNOTES/Pages/withdrawn/default.aspx|archive-date=29 July 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>