Abbey celebrates life of St Edward
Monday, 21st October 2013
Westminster Abbey celebrated the life of St Edward the Confessor at a National Pilgrimage on Saturday 19th October 2013.
St Edward, who was King of England between 1042 and 1066, rebuilt and greatly enriched Westminster Abbey turning it into a national institution. He was declared a saint in 1161 and two years later his body was moved or “translated” to a shrine in the church which he had built. On the same date in 1269 his body was translated again to a shrine in a newly-built Gothic abbey.
Each year the Abbey celebrates his life during Edwardtide.
The Bishop of Norwich, the Right Reverend Graham James, gave the sermon at a Festival Eucharist.
A lecture on the life of St Edward was given by the Canon Theologian, the Reverend Professor Vernon White.
During the day pilgrims were able to pray at the Shrine and were offered individual spiritual counselling and the Sacrament of Reconciliation together with prayer tours, the renewal of baptism promises, healing liturgies, the laying on of hands and Anointing.
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