St Edward and St Edward's Crown

Today is the Feast of the Translation of St Edward the Confessor. The day commemorates the move of the relics in 1163 within the abbey church at Westminster built by Edward at the time of his canonization.

St Edward as depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry

His shrine in the present, thirteenth century, Westminster Abbey is shown here:

and here is the scene in the Abbey on the occasion of the Papal visit, as part of which the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury prayed at St Edward's shrine behind the High Altar.

The Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury at prayer together at the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor.
Image from Idle Speculations

St Edward's positionas patron of the Monarchy and exemplar of English Kingship is enshrined in St Edward's Crown, used to crown the monarch.but not worn subsequently. This practice is similar to that followed in France, Hungary and Bohemia.

Bless we beseech thee this Crown and so sanctify thy servant Elizabeth, upon whose head this day thou dost place it for a sign of royal majesty ...

There have been two St.Edward's Crowns. The first was believed to have belonged to Edward the Confessor. The second was the crown which replaced it in 1661.

The original St. Edward's crown was kept at Westminster Abbey rather than in the Tower of London. This can be seen as indications its status as a relic in the custody of the Church. Aidan Nichols expresses this elegantly and susuccinctly in The Realm in his passage about the centrality of the Coronation to national life. By 1399 it had, if Froissart is to be believed accurate in his description, and he makes the point as clearly being a significant one, that King Henry IV was crowned with St Edward's Crown and that it was arched - implying sovereignty directly under God. As Henry's coronation followed rapidly upon the deposition of King Richard II, and from what is clear about Richard's devotion to St Edward and his exalted view of his regal position. it may well be that it was he who had added the arches. The effect may, possibly, have been rather like his father-in-law Charles IV's Crown of St Wenceslas, about which I wrote recently, although the English crown appears to have always alternated crosses and fleur de lys:

Following the regicide of Charles I in 1649 and the `abolition'of the Monarchy St. Edward's Crown was taken to the Tower of London to be melted down at the Mint. However there is no evidence that the metal was actually used for coins and it is thought that it may have been used to make the crown that Cromwell is said to have ordered in 1656 and which was displayed at his funeral two years later.

At the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, directions were given for a new 'St. Edward's Crowne'. Partly on the basis that only one new crown was delivered, but two were in use at the 1661 Coronation, it has been suggested that the crown which existed in the 1650s was refashioned. It has been suggested that the same gold from the old crown, from the Treasury supply, may have been used to make the new St. Edward's Crown in 1661. The work of Robert Vyner, who made the whole new set of regalia, it is made with 4lb 12oz of solid gold. From 1661 until the early twentieth century, the crown was set with stones hired for the coronation and then returned and replaced with paste stones.

The design of the present crown may well reflect that of its predecessor. In 1649 it was described as "King Alfred's crowne" and as being of gold wirework and set with slight stones and two little bells. Assuming a missing comma between "gold" and "wirework", with the wirework referring to the mounts for the stones, and that the pendant pearls from the cross on the monde are the representitives of the bells what Robert Vyner produced may well be a close or fairly close reproduction of what had been lost. His Imperial State Crown was not however very similar to that which was lost in 1649 - but that is another story about which I will post on another occasion.

From 1702 until the early 19th Century the crown was not actually used for the Coronation, but was instead only carried in the procession as a symbolic object. At Queen Victoria's Coronation in 1838 it did not even leave the Tower of London.

King Edward VII decided to revive the central role of the crown of his saintly namesake and St. Edward's crown was refurbished and prepared for his coronation in 1902. However, he had to abandon his plans to wear the heavy St. Edward's Crown as at the time he was recuperating after an appendicitis operation, and instead, like his mother was crowned with the Imperial State Crown, although on both occasions it was referred to as St Edward's Crown. For the coronation of King George V in 1911, Garrards carried out £375 worth of work, permanently resetting the crown with 444 precious and semi-precious stones. Since then it has once again been used as the actual Coronation Crown. In 1911 King George V quickly exchanged it for the lighter Imperial State Crown, but both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II wore it for the enthronement and homage until the Communion at their Coronations.

Meanwhile I am off to start my novena to that sainted King of the twentieth century, Bl.Emperor Charles of Austria, in the lead up to his feast day on October 21st. It can be found on the Emperor Charles League of Prayer website.

Archbishop's clarion call

Following on from the Papal visit the Archbishop of Westminster sent a pastoral letter to his diocese last Sunday urging Catholics to give greater public signs of their belief and practice. Given the position of the See of Westminster this can be seen as addressed to all the Catholics of England and Wales.

Fr Sean at Valle Adurni gives a link to the text of the Archbishop's letter and adds some excellent comments of his own here.

This seems a very appropriate and timely response to the tremendous success of the Papal visit. I felt renewed in my sense of being a Catholic and in the wish to be a more active and devout Catholic. We should not as a community be afraid to make our faith known and understood. Of course that does not mean frantic proseletysing but rather a firm, quiet confidence in saying and doing what we believe to be right and true.

Papal visit - Day IV

So I got up at 11pm to get ready for the big day. I decided this was definitely an occasion on which to wear my Newman Society tie, as well as Oriel cuff-links and scarf - which was also an additional source of warmth. I made my way through the last late night revellers to get to The Oratory by 3am for the coach - one of five from there, plus two from SS Gregory and Augustine. The journey was fine - along procession of coaches winding their way to Cofton Park along the motorway and through suburban Birmingham.

We arrived to find the organisation smooth and efficient , and once past the security checks, found the park well laid out for the occasion. There has been talk that many of the souvenir items were less than ideal, but the ones I saw were suitable and well designed, and reasonably priced. I bought a commemorative mug with the official, and I think, well-designed official logo. I like its confident representation of the tiara and keys. I also bought a paper flag to wave, which long before the Pope arrived had to be replaced as someone managed to put their portable chair on it when my pilgrim pack was on the ground. Later on, as we were leaving, I bought acommemortaive rosary with the Pope on the medallion. A friend who bought arosary earlier found it bore the image of John Paul II rather than Benedict XVI, and went and got it changed. We speculated if one could ask for, and what was the premium on, rosaries with Alexander VI, Innocent III or Boniface VIII?

A group of us found a good site from which to view proceedings, just where the ground began to rise, and facing the sanctuary area. So we settled in for the wait. it was still dark, it began to drizzle, but no matter... as I commented to one of our party, it was all because a fellow of Oriel had started reading the patristic writers...

Dawn came, it stopped drizzling, but the sky remained overcast, though the sun was trying to get through. As one strolled round the area, with its swelling crowds, one met friends, but in so large a crowd one failed to see the others with whom we had travelled from Oxford.

The big screens kept displaying quotations from Newman and from the Pope, and at one point earlier on there had been a film and slide presentaion of Newman's life - it seemed slightly odd seeing familiar places, including Oriel, on a big screen in the middle of the night, but there was awilling suspension of normality for the occasion. As time passed there was a quiet, but definite, sense of a happy expectancy, a rising enthusiasm.

I suspect most of us could have managed to live without the live radio programme being presented from the sound stage, with its guitar supported renditions of Newman's hymns, but it occupied the waiting time. It is only fair to say that the wait did not in reality seem excessive - one had time to find a base, get one's bearings and to prepare in some way for what was going to happen.

The sun kept trying to get through. Then the big screens announced that the Pope had left London by heliopter. We applauded and cheered the pictures of him doing so. Soon after we saw a helicopter circling. Was that him? ... No, it wasa TV one... No, Yes, that's the one. We cheered and waved our flags. Then...ths sun came out. All right, not quite Fatima, but it all seemed very auspicious.

As the clergy processed in we were spotting clergy we knew or recognised as they passed by on the central walkway. The Mass itself proceeded in a calm and dignified way. For events such as this it is clearly the necessary way to stage such events and this worked well, with dignity and gravitas.

Of course all eyes were on the Holy father - we were close enough to see him clearly with the naked eye as well as on the screens. What is clear is his presence, you watched because he is the pope, and because he is who he is. If one could say there was a high point for me it was the reading of the decree of Beatification - to be there and hear the Pope say that by his Apostolic Authority he decreed that John Henry Newman henceforth be counted Blessed, and then to see the projection change to reveal Newman's features was profoundly moving - as a Catholic, as a convert, as a historian of the Church, as an Orielensis.

(Photograph from St Mary Magdalen, Brighton)

(Photograph from Papal visit)

Believe me, I am on this photograph, along with a few others...

Afterwards, a sthe papal car left Cofton the sun went in and the weather was once more overcast. It could not have been scripted better, and summed up one's feelings as having been present on a very special occasion, and to have participate din atruly historic event

When we got back to Oxford several of us took the opportunity to pray at the new shrine to Bl. John Henry Newman in the Oratory church, and which was on show pending its dedication on Tuesday.

Over tea we watched live on television the end of the Pope's speech to the bishops at Oscott, his meeting with seminarians - including looking out for friends amongst them - and then the coverage of his journey to the airport and the farewell speeches. The coverage was impressive - I cannot think any other world leader would receive such attention with full, live coverage of his every public move. That is a testimony to the pulling power of the Papacy, and of this Pope in particular.

Looking back over four extraordinary days the overall impression I have is of awe, awe not merely at the schedule pursued by an 83 year-old, or at the warm and positive response from so many people here - at which I am not actually surprised - but renewed awe at the office of Pope, and at this particular Pope.

Pope Benedict XVI is a truly great man, patently holy and possessed of a vision he is impelled to communicate. I genuinely think he stands alongside the greatest of his predecessors in what he seeks to do. Long may he reign ... ad multos annos.

Who would not want to be in communion with Pope Benedict XVI - a man of transparent holiness, an upholder of Truth, the guardian of the world's moral authority, a man who has undertaken the defence of the Christian Church and heritage?

Papal visit - Day III

Saturday morning and off to watch the Papal Mass from Westminster Cathedral on the big screen at the Oxford Oratory.

This I sensed was seen as the liturgical showpiece of the visit, and so it proved to be. Inter alia it helps make the case for restoring the Feast of the Precious Blood as a regular observance.

(Photographs from Papal visit)

What was very striking was the evident rapport of the Pope with young people in the meeting on the cathedral piazza.

(Photograph from Papal visit)

Unfortunately I had to miss the television coverage of the afternoon and evening events in order to get ready for the early start for the beatification in Birmingham. However I was rather taken with this picture of the Pope and Archbishop Smith of Southwark at St Peter's Vauxhall:

(Photograph from Papal visit)

I managed to get some sleep in the evening and woke up at 11pm to a text message from an Anglican friend "I went to see the Pope in The Mall - a very special moment."

(Photograph from Papal visit)

Other have commented subsequently about the effect of British and Vatican flags side by side - a vision of what might have been had history been different, but also a great sign of what has been achieved in recent decades.

Papal visit - Day II

Day II of the Papal visit, and I am going off to London to see the Holy Father.

Of course I had not allowed for the traffic disruption caused by the visit - and so a long frustrating wait in the Oxford Tube on Park Lane, convincing myself that I was going to miss seeing His Holiness etc...

A very brisk walk along Victoria Street took me to Westminster and the crowd outside the abbey. There I spotted Fr Tim Finegan complete with camera recording events for his blog. I found the friends I had arranged to meet opposite the north transept and outside the old Middlesex County Hall(aka the Supreme Court),and was promptly provided with a yellow and white flag to wave. Indeed I had no sooner arrived than I was asked why I had come by a journalist from the Financial Times for their online comments. I granted them an interview, saying I had come as a Catholic both because the Pope is the Vicar of Christ and because I have enormous admiration and respect for the Pope as a leader and thinker. I was also asked about the media coverage. I said much has been negative but that it seemed to be improving.

After a while we began to see assorted Catholic and Anglican prelates walking into the abbey north door, and shortly after the Popemobile, and much more importantly, the Pope came into view. Yes, the journey had been worthwhile.

As the Holy Father moved on the crowd began to move and re-form. Hearing a loud cry of Viva il papa behind me I turned to find a family of friends from Oxford and the London Oratory. Shortly afterwards I came across Kevin de Athaide, another Oxford friend and now a seminarian at Allen Hall. who having seen the Holy Father at Twickenham he had walked down to Westminster. I also ran into another freind who is currently an Anglican seminarian.

Moving along Broad Sanctuary and into the area with both vociferous Catholics and the Protestant Truth Society some of my friends attempted to engage in dialogue with the latter. This, from experience at Walsingham, I realise to be largely futile - "proof texts" are quoted in a random and way as slogans, with no attempt to expound a case. Mind you there was one "Mad Catholic" lady who outdid them in volume and, possibly, eccentricity...

Looking around I saw Laurence England, author of That The Bones You Have Crushed May Thrill, and whose account of the afternoon you can read here. We greeted one another and I congratulated him on the piece I linked to in my last post. I then met up again with his parish priest, Fr Ray Blake from St Mary Magdalen, Brighton. His description of the event is here. Fr Blake was having some success in talking to one of the Protestants - at least they were talking, and along the way the issue of indulgences came up. Fr Ray was saying we wanted an indulgence; I suggested to him that given who was just across the road we should ask for a Plenary Indulgence. So a few of us started the chant "What do we want? A Plenary indulgence! When do we want it? Now!"

Two Spanish speaking girls were meanwhile making valiant efforts to hold their long banner bearing the text "Heart Speaks to Heart" or something similar in front of the Protestant Truth Society's banner. The whole sensation of being in this jumbled crowd was slightly unreal, but it was a case of "Tis good Lord to be here", even though it did mean missing live coverage on television of the Papal address in Westminster Hall or the service in the abbey.


Meanwhile inside the abbey:



(Image source: Getty Images/Daylife)



(Image source: Papal visit)



(Image source: Associated Press/Daylife)

From these pictures it appears that the Abbey authorities has uncovered the marvellous thirteenth century Roman cosmatesque Sanctuary pavement for the occasion - a very dignified and gracious compliment to the Pope.

We saw the west doors opening and then the abbey bells started pealing and the pope and Archbishop emerged into the fading light. We cheered and waved our flags again.

(Image source: Reuters/Daylife)

The Papal party departed and three of us made our way up Victoria Street amidst a crowd of pilgrims and the remaining protesters, and not a few archbishops and bishops scattering outwards from the abbey.

I reflected afterwards that one of the Protestant protesters had had a placard citing the 39 Articles that the Mass is a "blasphemous fable and a dangerous deceit." Having seen the Holy Father and hearing his message over the years my answer is to say, kindly, but firmly, to Anglicans "Tear up the 39 Articles - you know you want to. Rome is the answer."

Papal Visit - Day I

I will try to post some of my comments and reflections on the Papal visit over the next few days, though it may mean that they are a little delayed in reaching the blog.

Following Mass at the Oratory here in Oxford I watched the Pope's arrival and welcome at Holyroodhouse, and his journey through Edinburgh on the big television screen in the Oratory social centre, along with other parishioners and a group of recently arrived American pilgrims.

From their speeches both the Queen and the Pope seemed to be making much the same point about the place of faith in society - no surprise there, but still heartening. Metaphorically they were singing from the same hymn sheet.

(Photograph from Papal visit)

The way the Scottish dimension was stressed was very impressive, as were the numbers along Prince's Street right out to the Cardinal's residence. Cardinal O'Brien has clearly done a very good job in creating an identity for Scottish Catholicism that unites being Scottish and being Catholic. Has there been anything like this since 1560? One rather expected to hear the sound of John Knox quietly, or not so quietly, spinning, in his grave in the background. Mind you he does, it is said. have King Charles II's statue on top of his grave in Parliament Square in Edinburgh.

The emphasis on St Ninian was interesting - the first missionary to what became Scotland, and one with, it is said, links to the papacy in Rome as well as to St Martin in Gaul.

It was back to the Oratory to watch the Papal Mass at Bellahouston - again very impressive numbers - I hope Birmingham is as well attended. There was a poor commentary by a priest on Sky TV - Catholicism is all about community it would appear. There were several intakes of breath amongst the audience at that - not just mine.

All in all a very good start to the Papal visit - positive, well supported, resonating with people in the streets and at the Mass, and in no way oblivious of the Catholic Christian roots of these realms.