St Cuthbert's Statue
A medieval statue of St Cuthbert stands on the south-west side of his tomb.
The statue has lost its own head, but St Cuthbert holds another one - the head of St Oswald. But why would that be?
History
Gory keepsakes
The Northumbrian King Oswald, born 604, was killed in the Battle of Maserfield in 641 or 642. According to St Bede’s account of events, Oswald was dismembered and his head, hands, and arms were placed on stakes by his enemy, King Penda of Mercia (now the English Midlands).
Oswald’s successor King Oswiu (612-670) managed to take the body parts back with his army. Oswald’s hands and arms were taken to his royal city and they took the head to Lindisfarne, to be kept safe as a holy relic by the resident monks. Because Oswald had helped to bring Christianity to Northumbria, he was regarded as a saint.
When Viking raids forced the monks to flee Lindisfarne in 875, they put Oswald’s head in St Cuthbert’s coffin and carried it with them until they settled in Durham in 995. Today, Oswald still shares a tomb with Cuthbert in the Cathedral.
What about Cuthbert's head?
During the Reformation in the 16th century, some people felt that honouring saints with statues was wrong and not true to the teachings of the Bible. Damaging features, including knocking off the head and hands of a statue, was a powerful demonstration of this belief.
Follow the guided tour
You’re in: The Shrine of St Cuthbert You’re at: St Cuthbert's Statue Next stop: The Cuthbert and Oswald Banners
- Hung on the pillars on each side of St Cuthbert’s shrine are banners of St Oswald and St Cuthbert.