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Where is St Cuthbert buried? |
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Durham Cathedral
© Jarrold Publishing, Chapter of Durham |
From that time, until the early 16th Century, no one seems to have doubted the truth of Cuthbert’s preserved body or his presence in the Cathedral. However, around the year 1537, Henry VIII’s unbelieving commissioners came to Durham. During the 1530s, monasteries were being closed throughout the country.
Durham survived until 1540, but this did not prevent the destruction of the shrines of Cuthbert and Bede. We are fortunate to have a document known as the 'Rites of Durham', first published in 1593, which includes, what purports to be an eyewitness account of the destruction of Cuthbert’s shrine.
The writer speaks of the visitation of Dr Ley, Dr Henley and Mr Blythman, which took place about 1537. The Commissioners brought with them a goldsmith who, when he had taken off the gold, silver and precious stones, called out that he had come to a chest strongly bound in iron. The commissioners commanded him to smash it open.
Cuthbert's pectoral cross
© Jarrold Publishing, Chapter of Durham |
The goldsmith took a great hammer and smashed it open; he cried out “Alas, I have broken one of his legs”. Dr Henley called out to him to throw down the bones but he replied that he could not because they were kept together by skin and tissue. Dr Ley went up to see if this was true. He turned and spoke to Dr Henley that “he was lying whole”. Dr Henley did not believe him and still cried out “cast down the bones”.
Dr Ley responded that he should come up and see for himself. The witness claimed that Dr Henley handled the body roughly but found it was indeed whole and undecayed. The commissioners did not know what to do; then they did what any sensible commissioner would do. They commanded the monks to take the body into a vestry where it could be kept safe until the King decided what should be done. They then went off to London with the gold, silver and precious stones.
Words: Lilian Groves - Durham Cathedral
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