Arthur, Prince of Wales, eldest son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, was born in 1486 and baptized by the Bishop of Worcester. With his father and mother, and grandmother. the Lady Margaret, he visited Worcester in his boyhood. At the age of 15 he was married to Catherine of Aragon; the young pair were sent to keep court at Ludlow Castle, and there, less than five months after their marriage, Arthur died on 2 April 1502. Had he lived, he would have succeeded his father as King of England.
Prince Arthur’s body , after lying in state at Ludlow. was carried in solemn procession to Worcester. In the long series of funeral services in this Cathedral, three Bishops, eight Abbots, and the Prior of Worcester took part, and noblemen and men-at-arms made offerings.
This chantry chapel was erected over Arthur’s tomb by Henry VII, and decorated with heraldic devices illustrating the union of the rival houses of Lancaster and York. At the reformation, fifty years later, the figures above the reredos were mutilated, though many of the 88 small figures escaped damage; then, in Elizabeth’s reign, the east wall was covered with plaster, on which was painted “Vivat Regina” with the Royal Arms. The plaster remained there until 1788.
When Queen Elizabeth visited Worcester in 1575, “she entered into the church with grett and solompne singing and musick, with cornetts and sackbutts, with a canapy boren over her; and so up into the chancell, where she diligently viewed the tomb of King John, together with the chapell and tomb of her deere uncle, lat Prynce Arther, all rycheley and bewtyfully adorned.”*
*From an information board outside the Chantry Chapel
Tags: Prince Arthur, Prince of Wales, The Chantry Chapel, Vacation, Worcester, Worcester Cathedral
It was also a good way to celebrate (or commiserate) my last day of my current employment.
