Worcester's Christian Heritage

The skyline of Worcester is dominated not only by the tower of Worcester Cathedral, but by the spires, towers and cupolas of All Saints', St. Andrew's, known locally as the glovers' needle and the second tallest spire in England, St. Nicholas, St. Swithun's and St. Mary's, St. Martin's and St. Helen's. Most are still places of worship, but St. Nicholas was converted to a cafe bar in the 1980s and St. Mary's for residential use in the 1970s.

Worcester Cathedral, standing on the banks of the River Severn, was founded in AD 680. It has a Norman crypt, a fine peel of 15 bells including the tenor bell which weighs 48 cwt, a fascinating library containing a fine collection of medieval manuscripts and church music, a cloister with beautiful stained glass and the tombs of King John, who signed the Magna Carta in 1215, and Prince Arthur, older brother of Henry VIII.

St. Swithun's Church, built in 1736,  is a magnificent example of Georgian architecture with box pews, triple-decker pulpit and beautiful plasterwork. Although it was made redundant in the later 20th century, it stages a number of services and a range of events throughout the year.