PILGRIMAGE

Unlike some religions, Christians have no religious duty to make a pilgrimage , nor did the Bible encourage them.

There were many reasons to go on pilgrimage. The more religious one was to venerate a saint, or their bones and other relics.

Many pilgrimages were made to pray for a cure to an ailment or illness, or to give thanks for a cure.

You could pray for a spouse, or perhaps for children. Many people gave thanks for surviving a storm at sea or a war.

The most famous pilgrimages in England were to St Thomas of Canterbury and Walsingham, although there were many other large shrines. The most famous Christian pilgrimage today is that to Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain.

As Bennett requested pilgrimages, had he vowed to make pilgrimages during his life and never got to make them? Or were they for the good of his soul; to help ease its way through Purgatory?

King Henry VIII, was still a Catholic when Bennett died and his marriage to Ann Boleyn would not take officially be recognised until 25 January 1533. Yet many in England were already inclining towards Protestantism. But changes were underway.

With his divorce to Katherine of Aragon, Henry split from Rome and started to make changes. He issued Injunctions that banned many Catholic practices.

The sixth item of the Injunctions was the death knell of pilgrimages. There was to be no more,

…wandering to pilgrimages, offering of money, candles, or tapers to images or relics, or kissing or licking the same, saying over a number of beads, not understood or minded on, or in such-like superstition; for the doing whereof, ye not only have no promise of reward in Scripture…

Pilgrim badge of Henry VI, Windsor

Pilgrims would buy badges of the shrines they had visited. Sometimes these were placed against the saints shrine to absorb some of the holy power the saints bones held.

The Scallop Shell

Scallop shells were originally the symbol to show that you had visited St James of Compostela, but soon it became the sign worn by people to show that they were pilgrims.

Mont St Michel in France, as an island shrine, also claimed the scallop as its badge.

The picture above are the arms of Reading Abbey, which ws dedicated to St James.

Hand of St James

The hand of the apostle St James of Compostela, was given as a present to the daughter of Henry I the of England, Empress Matilda. She was the widow of the late Holy Roman Emperor, Henry VI. Matilda brought the hand to England. Her father gave it to Reading Abbey in 1133. Three years later it came into the possession of Henry of Blois, who would become Bishop of Winchester. In 1154, Matilda's son, now Henry II returned the hand to Reading Abbey.

During the Reformation the monks hid the hand and after many moves it is now in the church of St Peter, Marlow, Bucks.

The bad news!

Whether it was ever the original hand or a substitution early in the medieval period, or maybe the original was lost, but recent carbon dating in 2018 gives the earliest date as AD 987.

St James was beheaded in AD 44!

Restored Shrine

This is the recently restored shrine of St Thomas Cantilupe in Hereford cathedral.

It may appear too brightly coloured for most of us today, but this would have been normal for shrines and statues during the medieval period.

Offerings of jewellery, precious gems, lamps, and golden and silver objects would be on show to bedazzle the pilgrims and encourage more offerings.

Votive Offerings

There may have been expensive gifts on display at the shrines, but more humble offerings would also be on view.

Votive offerings representing body parts such as arms, legs feet, hands or heads have been found from Roman times The practice continued into the medieval period.

They may have been left when somebody had prayed for a cure or in thanks, after the cure had taken place.

They are rare in England. This wax figurine was found at Exeter cathedral.

Pilgrim Hospitality

Monasteries were under an obligation to give pilgrims board and lodgings. The rich ones were expected to pay!

You can still request a pilgrims Dole of Bread and Ale, if you visit the Hospital of St Cross at Winchester.

As you can see, it is hardly a meal, but at least they maintain the tradition.

The only other place still offering this is the The Hostal Reis Catolicos in Santiago de Compostela. It is now an expensive parador, but don't expect fine dining here either. Pilgrims have to go round the back for a humble meal.

Pilgrim Inns

Many inns claim to have served medieval pilgrims. Some may even be correct, but the George and Pilgrims was certainly built with that intention and still serves pilgrims today, but not with medieval food, and you will have to pay.

It was built in 1493 by Abbot John Selwood. There are tales of tunnels under the road to the abbey itself.

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