The Journey Of Saint Cuthbert - Durham, UK - Figurative Public Sculpture on Waymarking.com

The statue is free standing in Millennium Square and consists of 6 life size monks carrying St. Cuthbert in his coffin on their shoulders.

This statue is cast in bronze from an an original wooden version that stands in the church of on the island of Lindisfarne Priory where St, Cuthbert lived and died. It was partly funded by public subscription. Although in a very modern setting between the library and the Gala Theatre it is sited on what is thought to be the pilgrim route used for hundreds of years by pilgrims coming to Durham to visit Durham Cathedral.

There is a bronze plaque on the wall of the nearby library that tells the story of the statue and the original journey.

The Journey
The sculpture, The Journey, celebrates the foundation of Durham in 995 by the monks of the Lindisfarne community carrying the body of St. Cuthbert. It was carved by Fenwick Lawson in 1997 from seven elm trees. Cast in bronze it was unveiled by H.R.H. by Princess Ann on 26th September 2008.

Saint Cuthbert

Cuthbert, a Northumbrian Saxon, lived in the 7th Century on Lindisfarne (Holy Island) where he was first Prior and then Bishop. He was responsible for spreading Christianity across the north during a turbulent time. Known for living an austere life, and famed for his generosity to the poor, he died on 20th March 687 on the island of Lindisfarne, his place of retreat.

Some years later monks opened his coffin and discovered that his body was still intact. This and other miracles associated with him led to Cuthbert being recognised as a saint. From then on Saint Cuthbert's body was of huge importance to his community who built a shrine in his honour. He became the most revered saint in Northern England and his shrine became an important focus of pilgrimage.

Saint Cuthbert's Journey

In 875 following Viking raids on Lindisfarne, the community fled carrying its precious coffin, together with the Lindisfarne Gospels written for God and Saint Cuthbert. For many years the monks traveled around the north to Whithom in Scotland, then south across the Pennines to Crayke in Yorkshire. In 883 they arrived at Chester-Le-Street and settled for over 100 years building a wooden church there.

In 995 the Viking threat forced them to move again. They went to Ripon and later that year finally arrived in Durham a rocky outcrop in a loop of the River Wear. Here according to Symeon of Durham the coffin became immovable, a sign that this was where Cuthbert wished his body to rest permanently. A Saxon church was built in his honour and in 1098 the Normans built the present magnificent Cathedral as his shrine. The city of Durham grew up around it.

The plaque also has a map showing his journey and at the bottom a time line of significant events.

634	Cuthbert born
652	Enters Melrose monastery
673	Moves to Lindisfarne as a hermit
685	Becomes Bishop of Lindisfarne
687	Dies on Inner Farne and buried on Lindisfarne
698	Recognised as a Saint
793	Viking raids on Lindisfarne begin
875	Cuthbert's body moved from Lindisfarne
883	Cuthbert's community settle in Chester-le-Street
995	Cuthbert finds rest in Durham
998	Saxon Church built
1093	Work starts on Durham Cathedral

Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: The Journey Figure Type: Human Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Fenwick Lawson Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 2008 Materials used: Bronze Location: Millennium Square

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