Saint's and Royal tombs discovered in Ancient Westminster Abbey crypt (Edward the Confessor)

Westminster Abbey ^ | Dec 05 | Westminster Abbey

[churchillbuff]

What is believed to be the original ancient burial tomb of one of our most revered British Saints, Edward the Confessor, has been discovered at Westminster Abbey – exactly 1,000 years after his birth. The discovery comes as part of an unprecedented archaeological study at the Abbey using radar that has also revealed a series of Royal tombs dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries and historical secrets related to Royal burials.

Delighted archaeologists came across the forgotten, under-floor chambers when, as part of a larger conservation programme, they were using the latest ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technology to investigate the construction of the Abbey’s priceless Cosmati mosaic pavement, dating back to 1268, in front of the High Altar.

Their work has also identified other tombs, under the Shrine, in an area of the Abbey never before surveyed and on which no known records existed.

..“It’s fascinating to realise that, beneath this very famous altar, seen by millions around the world as the location at the heart of Royal and State occasions like marriages and funerals, there have always been these ancient tombs and graves that could well be holding many more secrets and clues about life – and death – 1,000 years ago.”

Edward was Patron Saint of England for over four centuries, until 1415 when he was replaced by Saint George. He was the first Sovereign to develop the custom of touching his people to cure them – a tradition that continued for nearly seven hundred years to the time of Queen Anne. Millions of pilgrims have visited his Shrine in the Abbey over the centuries – and special tours also include entry to the Shrine to this day.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Interesting.

[Family Guy]

Westminster Abbey is one of my favorite locations in England. It's so beautiful and contains such history.

[SevenofNine]

OHHH SNUGSSSSS

Rack this discovery

[eddie willers]

LOL....still holding a grudge, eh?

[TFFKAMM]

My favorite British saint: St. Alban, Protomartyr of Britain

[lightman]

Although the Book of Common Prayer only denotes them as commemorations, I'd be hard pressed to choose between George Herbert or John Donne.

[Mike Darancette]

Bastards.

William I was. But Edward sorta invited him in.

[Syberyenta]

Assuming the Abbey was constantly occupied, how exactly were these tombs 'lost' ?

[11th_VA]

Before the Norman dogs overran the place...

[Seniram US]

Apparently, the crypts were lost sometime after the Protestants took possession of Westminster Abbey, which was built by the Catholics.

King Edward the Confessor was Catholic and he possessed what was known as the King's Evil. It is documented that King Edward the Confessor had the power to touch someone with the disease (a form of tuberculosis) and instantly cure them.

King Edward, being a Catholic, would seem to be a reason why the patron Saint of England was transferred by the English to St. George, following Oliver Cromwells' campaign to annihilate the Catholics and Catholicism in England.

A story told with levity by some priests in England's is that they first join the Anglican Church. prior to becoming Catholic priests to help speed the recovery of their stolen property.

[SW6906]

Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time...

[Fractal Trader]

GGG ping

[kalee]

ping

[DJ MacWoW]

ping

[The_Reader_David]

Actually, Edward the Confessor was Orthodox.

The Church in England was out of communion with Rome from 1052. The Normans invaded with a Papal mandate to bring the English church under Papal rule.

The Saxon nobles who fled England largely went to Constantinople, though Harold Godwinson's daughter married Prince Vladimir Monomach, Prince of Kiev.

Although the usual cut-off for considering Western saints for veneration in the Orthodox church is 800 (!), English saints are generally venerated up to the time of the Norman conquest. St. Edward's successor is commemorated among some Orthodox as St. Harold, Last Orthodox King of England. I have even read argumentation that the real Robin of Loxley should be considered an Orthodox martyr.

[Seniram US]

Hi,

I'm not a religious scholar, but according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, King Edward was in communion with Rome and it was he who rebuilt the abbey. This is an excerpt from it which includes his canonization date, which makes no mention of him being Orthodox. MAybe you can discover when King Edward was out of communion with Rome. I couldn't locate it, but would be interested in the source.

"...Yielding to the entreaty of his nobles, he accepted as his consort the virtuous Editha, Earl Godwin's daughter. Having, however, made a vow of chastity, he first required her agreement to live with him only as a sister. As he could not leave his kingdom without injury to his people, the making of a pilgrimage to St. Peter's tomb, to which he had bound himself, was commuted by the pope into the rebuilding at Westminster of St. Peter's abbey, the dedication of which took place but a week before his death, and in which he was buried. St. Edward was the first King of England to touch for the "king's evil", many sufferers from the disease were cured by him. He was canonized by Alexander III in 1161. His feast is kept on the 13th of October, his incorrupt body having been solemnly translated on that day in 1163 by St. Thomas of Canterbury in the presence of King Henry II."

[Syberyenta]

Thanks for the insight.

You'd think they'd have disinterred him

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks F.T. for the ping.

Radar Pinpoints Tomb Of King Edward The Confessor
The Telegraph (UK) | 12-2-2005 | Jonathan Petre
Posted on 12/01/2005 6:10:40 PM PST by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1532411/posts