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Bede's Tomb

Today the tomb of the Venerable Bede can be seen in the Galilee Chapel at Durham Cathedral. There have been many changes to it over the centuries, but it remains an important destination for visitors and pilgrims.

From the Feretory to the Galilee

After Bede was moved from Jarrow, at first he shared a coffin – and a shrine – with Cuthbert. The bag containing Bede’s bones was rediscovered in 1104, when Cuthbert’s coffin was moved into the newly-built Norman Cathedral. The bones were enshrined near to Cuthbert in the Feretory and, a few years later, Bishop Hugh de Puiset placed them in their own gold and silver relic box.

Bede remained next to Cuthbert until 1370, when the Galilee Chapel was built. Richard of Barnard Castle, who was Archdeacon of Northumberland and worked for Thomas Hatfield, Bishop of Durham, persuaded the Bishop to move Bede’s relics from Cuthbert’s Feretory into his own shrine in the Galilee Chapel. When Richard died he was buried next to Bede’s tomb, his grave marked by a black stone in the floor which can still be seen today.

Pilgrims and Prayers

Although Cuthbert was the more popular saint at medieval Durham, Bede has also always been highly regarded, especially by visitors and pilgrims from Europe, where his writings were well known.

One story tells of a 15th century French Bishop, returning from Scotland, who visited Durham. The monks brought him to the shrine of Cuthbert and, kneeling to pray, he offered a ‘bawbee’ (a Scottish sixpence) saying ‘St Cuthbert, if you are a saint, pray for me’. He was then taken to the tomb of Bede and, again kneeling to pray, this time he offered a French Crown (a gold coin worth 4 English shillings), saying ‘St Bede, you who are a saint, pray for me.’

Bede after the Reformation

Bede’s shrine was destroyed in 1540, along with that of Cuthbert, and Bede was buried beneath the original site. A simple chest tomb was built above him, made from Egglestone marble. It was dismantled in 1831 when the grave was opened by Canon James Raine. When the chest tomb was rebuilt afterwards, the top was engraved with the text traditionally used on his grave: Hac sunt in fossa Bedae Venerabilis ossa which means ‘In this grave are the bones of the Venerable Bede’.

The 1831 Excavation

On 27th May 1831 Canon Dr James Raine (1791-1858) opened Bede’s grave in the Galilee Chapel. Four years earlier he had excavated Cuthbert’s tomb and found some spectacular treasures. Around three feet below the floor was a full-sized coffin containing a partial human skeleton. As befitted a simple monk, no costly silks or rich jewels were found: only a plain gilt iron ring and a few small coins, which had probably been pushed through the stonework of the grave as offerings. After examination, Bede was reburied in a new coffin.

Raine published a description of the excavation and what he had found in 1833. He wrote admiringly of Bede’s works, and was proud that he rests at Durham.

Spring blossom surrounding the exterior of the cathedral

No other church in the world can boast of such a man…”

Canon Dr James Raine, 1833

Explore further

The Venerable Bede

Find out about the Venerable Bede’s life, work and legacy: what makes him such an important figure in history, and how he came to Durham.

Rediscovered cast of St Bede’s skull brought to Durham Cathedral Museum after more than 190 years

More than 190 years after it was made, the rediscovered cast of St Bede’s skull has arrived at Durham Cathedral Museum as part of the new exhibition which marks 1000 years since Bede’s remains were brought to Durham Cathedral.

The cathedral building and grounds

Learn more about the different parts of the cathedral.