England’s other ‘Westminster Abbey’: Bury St Edmunds and its Royal Shrine

While the shrine of St Edward the Confessor in Westminster Abbey may be more famous, the royal shrine that mattered the most to England's kings between the 10th and 16th centuries was located outside London in the Suffolk town of Bury St Edmunds. This lecture explores who St Edmund was, why he mattered so much to England's kings, and how successive monarchs honoured England's greatest royal saint and the great Benedictine abbey that bore his name and claimed to hold his incorrupt body.
This free online lecture is given by Dr Francis Young. Dr Young is a historian and folklorist, the author of 14 books, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

[@michellerhodes9910]

Delighted to have caught up with this. I always enjoy Dr. Young's lectures. Bury St. Edmund's is a favourite holiday destination for me and my family so I am happy to hear more about its history and significance.

[@terrygibbs1147]

Excellent. Thanks very much

[@jknott6161]

Brilliant lecture (as expected when Francis Young does them) and on my home town :-)

[@sdw0112]

This is St Edmund's in Falinge, Rochdale, Greater Manchester (pre 1974 was in Lancashire). It is NOT Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. Correct title needed to this wonderful talk linking to the picture of the church.

[@TheChurchesConservationTrust]

Thanks for your comment - the lecture does correctly attribute 'Church of the Week' to St Edmund's Falinge. Was there somewhere else you believe it is mis-credited?

[@sdw0112]

The title of the lecture says: England’s other ‘Westminster Abbey’: Bury St Edmunds and its Royal Shrine. And the image is of Rochdale's church. That confused me!!!

[@margaretflounders8510]

And me and I live in Bury St. Edmunds@@sdw0112