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Durham Cathedral
© JD Whittaker
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Where is St Cuthbert buried? |
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The religious community of St. Cuthbert, seeking safety from Vikings and Scots, arrived in Durham in 995 and built an Anglo-Saxon Cathedral. 2004 marks the 900th anniversary of the translation of Cuthbert’s body into the new Norman Cathedral, which was founded in 1093. By August 1104, the building of the Cathedral had progressed sufficiently to place the body into its resting place behind the High Altar.
St Cuthbert's 7th Century coffin
© Jarrold Publishing, Chapter of Durham |
It was 418 years since Cuthbert’s death and questions were asked as to whether the body remained undecayed. It was decided that nine monks, led by Prior Turgot, should examine the contents of the coffin to see whether the legend was true or not. The first account of this is in Symeon of Durham’s 'Historia Ecclesiae Dunhelmensis'. written in the 12th Century.
On the night of 24 August, the nine monks carried the coffin into the new church where the opening took place. They were terrified but proceeded to lift the lid and remove the cloths until the body of Cuthbert was exposed. The monks reported that Cuthbert was lying on his right side, whole and un-decayed, as though he were asleep. The watchers immediately fell on their knees and recited the penitential psalms. Then they took out the bones of Bede and other saints which had been stored in Cuthbert’s coffin and put them to one side.
Two of the monks nervously lifted out the body and the watchers reported that it sagged, as if alive. A new floor was made for the coffin and Cuthbert’s body replaced. News of the revelation spread quickly amongst those who had been invited for the translation ceremony, but scepticism persisted. A further examination was made before independent witnesses and everyone accepted that the body was indeed whole.
Words: Lilian Groves - Durham Cathedral
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