Date sent: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 11:46:27 +0100 (BST)
Priority: normal
Subject: Edward the Martyr's relics
From: George FERZOCO <[log in to unmask]>
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In Wednesday's *Guardian*'s 'Notes and Queries' section, the following question
and answer were printed. I thought some of us would find this of interest...
George
* * * * * * * * *
Question:
In 1984 a High Court ruling meant that the last mortal remains of Edward the
Martyr, King of England, were deposited in a branch of the Midland Bank in
Croydon. Are they still there and why?
* * * *
My questions: why would the Anglican bishops refuse this offer? And why turn to
the Orthodox Church? (These questions are NOT meant to be inflammatory; as
Inspector Joe Friday would say if he were on this list, 'Just the facts,
please!'.)
Curious George
George Ferzoco tel ++ 44 (0)116 252 2654
Director of Studies for Italian fax ++ 44 (0)116 252 3633
University of Leicester e-mail [log in to unmask]
School of Modern Languages
LEICESTER LE1 7RH UNITED KINGDOM
This answer is pure speculation and not in the least factual: (a) maybe the C
of E was worried about the circumstances of Edward's martyrdom - it was a
political murder, carried out presumably at the instigation of his stepmother
to put her son Ethelred (the Unready) on the throne, and (b) the Orthodox
church is keen to build up its position in England at the moment, and likes
venerating several Anglo-Saxon saints, like Wilfred, Cuthbert and so on.
Julia Barrow
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