St Edmund is Celebrated at New Summer Long Exhibition in Bury St Edmunds

He was England’s first patron saint - slain by Vikings, his remains brought to Bury St Edmunds and an Abbey of international importance, built around his tomb.

Now more than 1150-years after his death, the martyred and mythologised St Edmund is to be celebrated through a new summer long exhibition.

Edmund and The Great Heathen Army opens at Moyse's Hall Museum next month.

It looks at the story of Edmund, King of East Anglia who was killed by the Danes, aka the Vikings in the year 869. Legend has it that he was captured, refused to renounce his Christian faith, was shot full of arrows, decapitated and his head guarded by a wolf.

The cult and cultural heritage of St Edmunds grew. His body was entombed in Bury St Edmunds, and the Abbey of St Edmund was subsequently built. Consequently, Bury St Edmunds became a significant international pilgrimage site where miracles, including healing the blind were said to occur. Even the death of the Viking warrior Sweyn Forkbeard was attributed to St Edmund from beyond the grave. Edmund was revered as England’s first patron saint until around 1348 when George was formally recognised by Edward III. St Edmund remains the patron saint of Suffolk.

Now from 6 June visitors to Moyse’s Hall will be able to see a re-creation of St Edmund’s gold tomb, which is being specially built by Andy Stubbs of Scenic Productions who supplies set design to the West End and the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmund.

A relic banner of St Edmund is also being created with support from Dr Rebecca Pinner Associate Professor at the University of East Anglia where she teaches Medieval and Early Modern literature.

The V&A Museum and other museums will be loaning related items which will be displayed alongside those already at Moyse’s Hall.

The exhibition is being supported through £6,000 from West Suffolk Council which runs the museum, alongside £3,900 from Bury St Edmunds Town Council, £3,450 from the Bury Society and £300 from the Friends of Moyse’s Hall Museum.

Cllr Ian Shipp, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture at West Suffolk Council, said: “We are excited to celebrate St Edmund, to look in more detail at the cult and mythology that was created around and following his death, and why even today Edmund is such an important part of our cultural heritage. This promises to be a fascinating insight into the life and legend that will capture the imaginations of residents and visitors alike. I also think it is apt that this exhibition is being hosted whilst we await news on the success of the delivery phase bid, to the National Heritage Lottery, for the Abbey of St Edmund, Reborn, a project led by the Cathedral in partnership with West Suffolk Council and English Heritage. My huge thanks to Bury St Edmunds Town Council, the Bury Society and the Friends of Moyse’s Hall and everyone else involved in helping us achieve this ambitious Edmund exhibition.”

Mayor of Bury St Edmunds, town Cllr Donna Higgins, said: “Suffolk is rightly proud of its Patron Saint. Part of our funding will support work that will provide opportunities for school children to access the exhibition and discover more about this important piece of our history. The town council is delighted to support this intriguing exhibition which will further people’s insight and understanding into the life and death of Edmund.”

Martyn Taylor, Chair of the Bury Society, said: “Without Edmund and the Great Heathen Army, there would be no cult of Edmund, no Abbey, no international attraction, and the unique and wonderful town of Bury St Edmunds that we, and tourists, love today, would be very, very different. So, the Bury Society is pleased to have the opportunity to help bring this compelling historical exhibition to light.”

Dr Steve Jones, Secretary of The Friends of Moyse’s Hall Museum, said: “This is the single biggest celebration of Edmund since the days of the Abbey and the international pilgrimage that shaped the town. The Friends are thrilled  to work with the museum, West Suffolk Council, the Bury Society and Bury St Edmunds Town Council on this project and we look forward to the opening."

The exhibition runs from 6 June to 4 October. For more information visit Moyse's Hall Museum website.