Chester Mystery Plays (c. 1380–1575)

1. Liturgical drama spreads beyond church services

   Jan 1, 1000Labels: Liturgical Drama

   • Britannica
   • Britannica

2. Chester’s biblical cycle tradition begins to form

   Jan 1, 1380Labels: Chester Cycle

   • Britannica

3. Earliest surviving record of Chester play activity

   Jan 1, 1422Labels: Chester Guilds

   • Chesterwiki

4. Three-day cycle performed at Corpus Christi festival

   Jun 1, 1450Labels: Corpus Christi

   • Britannica

5. Processional “pageant wagon” staging becomes central

   Jan 1, 1500Labels: Pageant Wagons

   • 1911 EB

6. Cycle shifts toward Whitsuntide civic performance

   Jan 1, 1519Labels: Whitsun Plays

   • eNotes

7. Official “Banns” publicize the plays and rules

   Jan 1, 1532Labels: Banns Notifications

   • Chesterwiki

8. Reformation pressure drives revisions and controversy

   Jan 1, 1555Labels: Reformation Pressure

   • Routledge
   • Gutenberg

9. Chester leaders challenged for staging plays in 1572

   Jan 1, 1572Labels: 1572 Challenge

   • Gutenberg
   • Routledge

10. Last recorded full Chester cycle performance

    Jan 1, 1575Labels: Last Full

    • eNotes
    • Britannica

11. Late-1500s manuscripts preserve the cycle after performance ends

    Jan 1, 1591Labels: 1591 Manuscript

    • Huntington
    • Britannica

12. Festival of Britain revival restarts public Chester performances

    Jun 1, 1951Labels: 1951 Revival

    • Chester Plays
    • Britannica