3. The Reformation and Changes under Four Tudor Monarchs (1520–1600)

This chapter describes the turmoil of the sixteenth-century reforms at Worcester Cathedral. Under Henry VIII there was a loss of many festival days, destruction of the shrines and the statue of ‘Our Lady of Worcester’; then a break with Rome, Dissolution of the priory, and a new cathedral foundation. Under Edward VI, the liturgical changes were more sweeping, with services reduced to just Matins, Evensong and Holy Communion. The use of Latin was replaced by English and there was a purging of images, liturgical books and music. Mary reversed many of these changes, bringing back the Latin Masses and the altars and trappings of Catholic worship. Finally, Elizabeth tried to establish a Protestant Church that was acceptable to more people. The reversals of these unsettled years hit all the churches in the country, but the changes may have been more marked at Worcester because of the radical clergy appointed to senior positions there.