Editing Worcester Cathedral (section)

==Architecture==
[[File:Worcester Cathedral Nave, Worcestershire, UK - Diliff.jpg|thumb|left|The nave]]
Worcester Cathedral embodies many features that are highly typical of an English medieval cathedral. Like the cathedrals of [[Salisbury Cathedral|Salisbury]] and [[Lincoln Cathedral|Lincoln]], it has two [[transept]]s crossing the [[nave]], rather than the single [[transept]] usual on the Continent. This feature of English cathedrals was to facilitate the private saying of the [[Liturgy of the Hours|Holy Office]] by many clergy or monks. Worcester is also typical of English cathedrals in having a [[chapter house]] and [[cloister]]. To the north side of the cathedral is an entrance porch, a feature designed to eliminate the draught which, prior to the installation of modern swing doors, would blow through cathedrals whenever the western doors were open.

There are important parts of the building dating from every century from the 11th to the 16th. Its tower in the [[English Gothic architecture|perpendicular style]] is described by [[Alec Clifton-Taylor]] as "exquisite"<ref name=ACT/> and is seen best across the [[River Severn]].<ref name="TB&C">Tim Tatton-Brown and John Crook, ''The English Cathedral''</ref>

The earliest part of the building at Worcester is the multi-columned [[crypt]] in [[Norman architecture|Norman style]] with cushion [[Capital (architecture)|capital]]s remaining from the original monastic church begun by bishop Saint [[Wulfstan of Worcester]] in 1084. Also from the Norman period is the circular [[chapter house]] of 1120, made octagonal on the outside when the walls were reinforced in the 14th century. The nave was built and rebuilt piecemeal and in different styles by several different architects over a period of 200 years, from 1170 to 1374, some bays being a unique and decorative transition between Norman and Gothic.<ref name=ACT>{{harvnb|Clifton-Taylor|1967}}</ref><ref name=JH>John Harvey, ''English Cathedrals''</ref> The oldest parts show alternate layers of green sandstone from [[Highley]] in Shropshire and yellow [[Cotswold stone|Cotswold limestone]].<ref>{{cite news | title = The Normans: A walk around Worcester Cathedral | work = [[BBC Online]] | date = 2 August 2010 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/herefordandworcester/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8877000/8877742.stm | access-date = 8 August 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130615134930/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/herefordandworcester/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8877000/8877742.stm | archive-date = 15 June 2013 | url-status = live }}</ref>

[[File:Worcester Cathedral Lady Chapel, Worcestershire, UK - Diliff.jpg|thumb|left|The lady chapel and east window]]
[[File:Worcester Cathedral Crypt.jpg|thumb|upright=0.86|The Norman crypt]]
The east end was rebuilt over the Norman crypt by Alexander Mason between 1224 and 1269, coinciding with, and in a very similar [[English Gothic architecture|Early English style]] to, [[Salisbury Cathedral]]. From 1360, [[John Clyve]] finished off the nave, built its vault, the west front, the north porch and the eastern range of the cloister. He also strengthened the Norman chapter house, added [[buttress]]es and changed its vault. His masterpiece is the central tower of 1374, originally supporting a timber, lead-covered [[spire]], now gone. Between 1404 and 1432, an unknown architect added the north and south ranges to the cloister, which was eventually closed by the western range by John Chapman, 1435–1438. The last important addition is [[Arthur Tudor|Prince Arthur]]’s Chantry Chapel to the right of the south choir aisle, 1502–1504.<ref name=ACT /><ref name=JH />

Worcester Cathedral was [[Victorian restoration|extensively restored]] from 1857 to 1874 by W. A. Perkins and Sir [[George Gilbert Scott]]. Most of the fittings and the stained glass date from this time. Some early 17th century screens and panelling, removed from the choir and organ casing in 1864, are now at [[Holy Trinity Church, Sutton Coldfield]].<ref name="EH1319961">{{NHLE|num=1319961|desc=Church of the Holy Trinity|access-date=27 August 2013}}</ref>