Norfolk Pilgrim

Ely was as much a holy island as Lindisfarne or Iona   in Saxon times. To this day   the cathedral stands on its little hill above the flat black fens, but since the meres and marshes were drained, on an island no more! I had come to Ely in search of St. Withburg.   In the 10 th century monks stole her body from Dereham churchyard and   enshrined her relics in the abbey church next to those of her royal and saintly sisters – Etheldreda and Sexburgh .   Etheldreda founded   the monastery in the 7 th century and when she died   Sexburgh became abbess. The tides of time have washed away most traces of the holy sisters. HenryVIII’s commissioners made a thorough job of destroying their shrines. And, with the passing of the monasteries, the abbey church became the Cathedral for the Diocese of Ely. I did find one direct link to the foundation years, parts of a memorial that once marked the grave of Ovin, Etheldreda’s steward. Dug up by chance ...

2nd October was the annual Fursey Pilgrimage at Burgh Castle Lovely day! Well done everyone!   http://churchestogetheronthebroads.org.uk/2010/10/04/annual-st-fursey-pilgrimage/ Fursey celebration at St Matthews, Norwich on 15th Jan More info ......

In 1630 the Rev’d Brisley preached at the rededication of St. Andrew’s, Flixton.  He called his sermon,  'The Glory of the Latter Temple greater than the Former' .    When published in London in 1631 it carried a sub-title 'A Sermon preached at the Consecration or Restitution of the Church of Flixton , in Lovingland, Suffolk , being sometimes the Mother Church of the East Angles.'.  The Glory has passed!  All that is left are ivy clad ruins I was following my St. Felix obsession. Was the farm, the ton,   that bore his name – Flixton - once part of  the saint’s estates?  Had Felix’s feet walked these paths? and had he and his fellow monks worshipped on this hill? Other visitors had noted Roman tiles in the crumbling walls. Were the tiles from Burgh Castle, the near by  Roman fort,  where Felix’s fellow missionary St. Fursey had his base?  Now there’s a thought!  . Fursey  and Felix neighbours on what in...