The Journey Sculpture - Durham, UK
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dtrebilc
N 54° 46.670 W 001° 34.520
30U E 591633 N 6070999
This life size sculpture of six monks carrying the coffin of Saint Cuthbert in Millennium Square was cast in bronze using the original wooden sculpture that stands in Lindisfarne Priory on the island of Lindisfarne.
Waymark Code: WM19CZ1
Location: North East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 01/30/2024
Views: 2
Saint Cuthbert lived and died in a time of unrest in England when Vikings were carrying out raids in the north.
Cuthbert was a bishop in Lindisfarne for a while which is also known as Holy Island.
After his death he was declared a saint, but because of the Viking raids monks moved his coffin to safety a number of times around the north of England, before finally settling in the place that became Durham. He is now buried in Durham Cathedral.
The original of this sculpture was carved out of seven elm trees and stands in Lindisfarne Priory. Because of the links between Lindisfarne and Durham the original sculpture was loaned to Durham Cathedral for a while. It was so popular that funds were raised locally to have the bronze sculpture cast from the original and placed in Millennium Square Durham.
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Because it was cast from an original wooden carving the sculpture is very detailed. It has also got a black patina and almost looks like it is made from coal. The overall effect is that it is very tactile and hard to resist to touch.
Although in a very modern setting between the library and the Gala Theatre it is sited on what is thought to be the pilgrim route used for hundreds of years by pilgrims coming to Durham to visit Durham Cathedral.
There is a bronze plaque on the wall of the nearby library that tells the story of the statue and the original journey.
The Journey
The sculpture, The Journey, celebrates the foundation of Durham in 995 by the monks of the Lindisfarne community carrying the body of St. Cuthbert. It was carved by Fenwick Lawson in 1997 from seven elm trees. Cast in bronze it was unveiled by H.R.H. by Princess Ann on 26th September 2008.
Saint Cuthbert
Cuthbert, a Northumbrian Saxon, lived in the 7th Century on Lindisfarne (Holy Island) where he was first Prior and then Bishop. He was responsible for spreading Christianity across the north during a turbulent time. Known for living an austere life, and famed for his generosity to the poor, he died on 20th March 687 on the island of Lindisfarne, his place of retreat.
Some years later monks opened his coffin and discovered that his body was still intact. This and other miracles associated with him led to Cuthbert being recognised as a saint. From then on Saint Cuthbert's body was of huge importance to his community who built a shrine in his honour. He became the most revered saint in Northern England and his shrine became an important focus of pilgrimage.
Saint Cuthbert's Journey
In 875 following Viking raids on Lindisfarne, the community fled carrying its precious coffin, together with the Lindisfarne Gospels written for God and Saint Cuthbert. For many years the monks traveled around the north to Whithom in Scotland, then south across the Pennines to Crayke in Yorkshire. In 883 they arrived at Chester-Le-Street and settled for over 100 years building a wooden church there.
In 995 the Viking threat forced them to move again. They went to Ripon and later that year finally arrived in Durham a rocky outcrop in a loop of the River Wear. Here according to Symeon of Durham the coffin became immovable, a sign that this was where Cuthbert wished his body to rest permanently. A Saxon church was built in his honour and in 1098 the Normans built the present magnificent Cathedral as his shrine. The city of Durham grew up around it.
The plaque also has a map showing his journey and at the bottom a time line of significant events.
| 634 | Cuthbert born |
| 652 | Enters Melrose monastery |
| 673 | Moves to Lindisfarne as a hermit |
| 685 | Becomes Bishop of Lindisfarne |
| 687 | Dies on Inner Farne and buried on Lindisfarne |
| 698 | Recognised as a Saint |
| 793 | Viking raids on Lindisfarne begin |
| 875 | Cuthbert's body moved from Lindisfarne |
| 883 | Cuthbert's community settle in Chester-le-Street |
| 995 | Cuthbert finds rest in Durham |
| 998 | Saxon Church built |
| 1093 | Work starts on Durham Cathedral |