Fresh Perspectives on Medieval Pilgrimage: Canterbury Cathedral, Durham Cathedral, and York Minster
Sponsoring Organization(s)
Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture, Univ. of York
Organizer Name
Dee Dyas
Organizer Affiliation
Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture, Univ. of York
Presider Name
Anthony Bale
Presider Affiliation
Birkbeck, Univ. of London
Paper Title 1
"Surely this is no other than the gate of Heaven?": Analyzing and Replicating Medieval Pilgrim Experience
Presenter 1 Name
Dee Dyas
Paper Title 2
Sharing Sacred Space: Pilgrims, Priests and the Liturgy in English Cathedrals
Presenter 2 Name
John Jenkins
Presenter 2 Affiliation
Univ. of York
Paper Title 3
Presenting and Interpreting Medieval Saints Today: Pilgrims and Other Visitors to Canterbury, Durham, and York
Presenter 3 Name
Tiina Sepp
Presenter 3 Affiliation
Univ. of York
Start Date
11-5-2017 3:30 PM
Session Location
Schneider 1350
Description
This session will discuss some of the key findings of a three year interdisciplinary Arts and Humanities Research Council funded research project which explores the experience of pilgrims at three major medieval shrines, Canterbury, Durham, and York. The project draws on archival evidence, literary texts, pilgrim narratives, architectural developments, archaeological evidence and material culture, together with high level digital visualization of ways in which shrines were used, to identify the theological, sensory, cultural and social dynamics of pilgrimage experience. Historical evidence has been interrogated with a new focus on identifying the power of place and the role of sensory experience, including questions of why some shrines (such as Canterbury) achieved international significance and others (such as at York) failed to achieve wide popularity; and why some saints (such as Cuthbert at Durham) retained their appeal through the Reformation and secularisation. The session will also examine evidence of the ways in which shrines have been managed, highlighting issues of control and access. Dee Dyas
Fresh Perspectives on Medieval Pilgrimage: Canterbury Cathedral, Durham Cathedral, and York Minster
Schneider 1350
This session will discuss some of the key findings of a three year interdisciplinary Arts and Humanities Research Council funded research project which explores the experience of pilgrims at three major medieval shrines, Canterbury, Durham, and York. The project draws on archival evidence, literary texts, pilgrim narratives, architectural developments, archaeological evidence and material culture, together with high level digital visualization of ways in which shrines were used, to identify the theological, sensory, cultural and social dynamics of pilgrimage experience. Historical evidence has been interrogated with a new focus on identifying the power of place and the role of sensory experience, including questions of why some shrines (such as Canterbury) achieved international significance and others (such as at York) failed to achieve wide popularity; and why some saints (such as Cuthbert at Durham) retained their appeal through the Reformation and secularisation. The session will also examine evidence of the ways in which shrines have been managed, highlighting issues of control and access. Dee Dyas