The cult of Erkenwald at St Paul's Cathedral

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Abstract

This chapter assesses the evidence for the importance of Old St Paul’s Cathedral in Medieval England, predominantly dealing with the post-Conquest era, but briefly addressing its Anglo-Saxon origins. The historical and cultural distinctiveness of St Paul’s is explored through the peculiar combination of circumstances characterizing its institutional life. These included its community of canons rather than monks, its uncertain status and role both as a neighbour of Westminster Abbey, the ecclesiastical focus of royal authority in the Anglo-Norman kingdom, and as episcopal see within the metropolitan authority of the archbishopric of Canterbury. The life of St Paul’s is explored in relation to the burgeoning urban environment of London, with its dramatic mix of wealth and poverty, its educational and social needs, and the organization of its labour relations. This is done with particular reference to the miracles of the Cult of St Erkenwald.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationOld St Paul’s and culture
EditorsShanyn Altman, Jonathan Buckner
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Chapter2
Pages29-50
Number of pages21
ISBN (Electronic)9783030772673
ISBN (Print)9783030772666
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Sept 2021

Publication series

NameEarly Modern Literature in History
ISSN (Print)2634-5919

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Literature and Literary Theory
  • Language and Linguistics
  • History
  • Linguistics and Language

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