St Cuthbert's Corpse: A Life After Death

The miracle of St Cuthberts incorrupt corpse has been the subject of much fascination since his death over thirteen-hundred years ago inspiring pilgrims monks and even the construction of Durham Cathedral itself. Throughout the centuries Cuthberts coffin has been opened on six occasions. For the first time accounts of these openings have been brought together in a single volume providing a unique history of the saint from his death to the present day.Including details of his death and burial the moment when monks first discovered his remains to be incorrupt and the most recent exhumation of his relics in 1899 David Willem brings alive the mystery and intrigue of the life of Cuthberts corpse and tries to answer questions such as When did the corpse decay? and Is Cuthbert still buried in Durham Cathedral?Elegant accessible and movingly written. - Giles E. M. Gasper Associate Director Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies Durham UniversityIn Christian traditions curiosity piety and awe almost inevitably frame that sensed affinity our own embodiment finds with holy bodies. St Cuthberts body is no exception as this book shows in tracing varieties of hope faith and experience down the Christian centuries. - Prof. Douglas J. Davies Director Centre for Death and Life Studies Durham UniversityAbout the Author David Willem is the author of Kicking: Following the Fans to the Orient and a former correspondent for The Guardian and The Times.