Pilgrim's Progress - June 6, 2007
The Recorder of Chester Judge Elgan Edwards held a very different Court to the Crown Court he is used to presiding over. Judge Edwards spoke in Chester Cathedral’s unique Consistory Court; the only old Church Court to have survived in the country, on the significance of the Courts and their history. More than 30 people were in attendance on Monday night including the Monks involved in the St.Werburgh Pilgrimage, which reaches its climax on June 17 to 21. The Monks will walk 70 miles from Hanbury in Staffordshire to Chester Cathedral, based on the Translation of St.Werbugh’s Relics over the same route 1,100 years ago in 907.
Once Judge Edwards had finished his speech, the Monks collected and set up the Feretory (Shrine for a Saint’s Relics) with the Casket, representing The Relics of St.Werburgh and set off on a walk around the Walls. Before embarking on the walk, the Monks stopped in Abbey Square and visited The Dean of Chester Prof Gordon McPhate who gave his Blessing. The walk came to an end at the Albion Inn, Park Street, Chester where everybody gathered for a drink, followed by dinner at Chester City Club in St. Peter’s Churchyard.
David Pickering, AKA Cedric the Conversus, said:
“The Consistory Court in Chester has its origins in the early sixteenth century and gives us a fascinating glimpse into history; it is not just rare but unique and it deserves to be treasured not only as one element in the fabric of Chester Cathedral but also as part of the legal history of this country. As part of the St.Werburgh Festival we have raised £1,000 to help preserve the Consistory Court in Chester. This is part of a programme of fundraising during the Festival to support “Young People and Old Things.’ The Consistory Court is one of the Old Things to be supported. Details of further causes to be aided by the St.Werburgh Festival will be released next week. I look forward to a number of people walking the whole route with myself and the rest of the Monks. We hope for a significant number of people and children to walk the last five miles into Chester to a reception at the Cathedral.”
David’s beard has become established after he decided not to shave from February 3, which is St. Werburgh’s Feast Day, to June 21, which is St. Werburgh Saints Day, commemorating the Translation of the Relics from Hanbury to Chester Cathedral.
During this time David Pickering will adopt the name of “Cedric the Conversus”; Cedric was the name of a character in Episode 11 of the Chester Historical Pageant 1937. Conversus is a bearded trainee Monk.
Ends: 444 words
Notes
Consistory Courts dealt with all manner of legal issues affecting the church, some of a life and death seriousness but many more trivial- disputes about alterations to church buildings and the like. The last case heard at Chester was in the 1930’s and concerned a priest who had attempted suicide.
During the Reformation under Mary I (1553-58) some 300 English Protestants were burnt at the stake. One of these, the Lancastrian George Marsh, was burnt at Spital Boughton in 1555, following a heresy trial in the Consistory Court at Chester Cathedral. A memorial stands on the site.
These days the Court deals with the granting of faculties and clergy discipline as well as other aspects of the legal work of the Diocese, the Chancellor being an eminent lawyer.
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