The Development of St Edmunds Cathedral.
A talk by Sarah Friswell, 14th February 2024.
The story of how Bury Cathedral developed over 1000 years is an enthralling story and most of us discovered new facts that we hadn’t known before.
The story began with the body of St. Edmund, being placed in the small round church. The church became a site of pilgrimage to many Christians and its popularity grew after the death of the Viking Sweyn Forkbeard, King of Gainsborough. Forkbeard had, in his short time on the throne, demanded taxes be paid across the realm, including from those under the patronage of St Edmund, who had previously enjoyed exemption.
If they were not paid promptly, Forkbeard threatened that Bury St Edmunds (or Boedericsworth, as it was then known) would be set on fire and the priests put to death.
St Edmund allegedly visited the keeper of his relics as he prayed, a monk called Ailwin who believed the taxes to be unjust, and gave him a message: “Ask [Forkbeard], in my name why do you tax the people who pay tribute to none but me?” Not long after this Forkbeard was murdered calling out “Help me my soldiers, help me. Behold, St Edmund comes to kill me.”
Forkbeard’s son Canute had a Benedictine monastery built in 1020 to make amends. The Norman tower still remains today. The nave of the church was mostly rebuilt starting in 1503 and was completed due to a gift from Edward VI. The ceiling was changed in Victorian times with the addition of 28 angels. The pews were put in by George Gilbert Scott.
In 1914 St James’ church became the new cathedral for this area of Suffolk. In 1960 Stephen Dykes Bowers created a new high altar, which brought in more light and the cathedral was expanded. Unfortunately, money ran out in the 1970s but in his will he left two million pounds and with additional funding from the lottery the new tower and other work was completed in 2004. The work was carried out under the premise it would last another 1000 years. The project used the skills and materials of yester-year, leaving us the magnificent building we are able to visit today.
Sally Card