St.Werburgh joins colourful cavalcade
A giant figure of St.Werburgh towered over large crowds as part of Chester’s Midsummer Watch Parade over the weekend.
The giant St.Werburgh emerged from the West doors of Chester Cathedral, accompanied by Sunday school geese. The Watch Parade, which celebrates a colourful cavalcade of Medieval characters in procession around the city streets, marked the end of the St.Werburgh Festival.
On Friday, the Relics of St.Werburgh returned to Chester Cathedral after a Chapter of monks, led by Cedric the Conversus, carried them on a 70 mile, four-day pilgrimage, from Hanbury to Chester. More than 200 school pupils from Upton High, Dorin Park, Woodfield Primary, Newton Primary, Acresfield Primary, Mill View Primary and St. Clare’s Primary, took part in a special choral concert to welcome their return.
The Sheriff of Chester Cllr Andrew Storrar officially received the Relics on Friday on behalf of the city and the Dean of Chester Cathedral Prof Gordon McPhate welcomed the Relics on behalf of the Cathedral. Earlier, a throng of Roman legions and Vikings met the monks at Newgate, allowing the monks to enter the city. The Relics will now rest at St.Werburgh’s Lady Chapel in Chester Cathedral.
The monks and their supporters have raised more than £10,000 for both the Cathedral and children’s charities during the walk.
Speaking at a Town Hall Square reception on Friday, Sheriff of Chester Cllr Andrew Storrar said:
“I accept these Relics and hope they will protect the city for many years to come. You have survived this 70-mile journey to bring these Relics back to Chester. Any money raised will help schools and fund a Cathedral school trip to the USA.”
The Dean of Chester Prof Gordon McPhate said:
“The Relics will be placed in the Lady Chapel and will be a focus for visitors to the city. St.Werburgh was a Princess of Mercia and born around 650AD. She became a nun on the death of her father. She was devoted to God and died in 706AD. Her miracles included bringing geese back to life. 1,100 years ago in 907AD her Relics were brought to Chester and pilgrims visited her shrine. The shrine still stands in the Lady Chapel of the Cathedral.”
David Pickering, AKA Cedric the Conversus, said:
“We set off from St.Werburgh’s Church, Hanbury, where we had a special service on Sunday. St.Werburgh was born in Staffordshire, the daughter of a King. She became the Abbess of Ely and died in Hanbury. It’s 1,100 years to the day since the Relics of St.Werburgh were brought to Chester. The walk on Monday was difficult because of rain and on Tuesday conditions were difficult because of the effects of rain. The choral concert was a fitting Finale and the Midsummer Watch Parades will conclude the Festival.”
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Notes
The St.Werburgh Festival commemorates the return of the Saint’s bones from Hanbury in Staffordshire to Chester Cathedral, 1100 years ago
David Pickering, chairman of the Festival, led the walkers as “Cedric the Conversus.’ The Festival has also been a journey through history and culture, bringing together Viking camps, lectures about St Werburgh at the University of Chester and performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. More than 200 spectators attended the outdoor performance on Tuesday and there was another showing at 2.30am on Abbey Green during the Summer Solstice on Thursday.
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