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Depiction of Christ, above St Cuthbert's shrine
© Jarrold Publishing, Chapter of Durham
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Where is St Cuthbert buried? |
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It was at this point, some believe, that the Saint’s body was hidden by the monks and another body substituted for that of Cuthbert. The Rites state that the Prior and monks buried him in the same place where his shrine had been.
St Cuthbert's shrine in Durham Cathedral
© Jarrold Publishing, Chapter of Durham |
After the destruction of the shrine, the heart was torn out of the monastery and the last Prior, Hugh Whitehead, handed it over to the King in December 1540. This was quite a wise move, as it led to the King pensioning off half the monks but leaving 36 of them with the Prior to run the Cathedral. In 1541, the Cathedral reopened as one of the ‘New Foundation’ Cathedrals.
King Henry appointed Hugh Whitehead as the first Dean of the new Cathedral and the 12 most senior monks as the first Canons. What would be more natural than that they should rebury Cuthbert in the same spot where his shrine stood? The bill of 17 shillings and 4½ pence for preparing the grave for the 1542 reburial is preserved in the Cathedral archives.
The marble stone was disturbed on 17 May 1827 by James Raine, the Cathedral librarian. Although the body was found to be a skeleton, the artefacts recovered were certainly those of Cuthbert. A coffin, presumably made in 1542, was uncovered; inside was another coffin probably that made in 1104. Finally the 7th Century coffin, sadly broken, was reached.
In the coffin Raine found a skeleton clothed in what had been glorious robes. He took out an ivory comb and a portable altar together with silks given to Cuthbert by King Athelstan when the shrine was at Chester le Street. He took from the skeleton the gold and garnet cross which has become the symbol of Cuthbert and of Durham. All these artefacts, can be seen in the Treasures of St Cuthbert Exhibition at the Cathedral.
Words: Lilian Groves - Durham Cathedral
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