Event Details

Saints’ Lives are vital sources for many aspects of medieval society, ranging from ecclesiastical institutions and theology to the practicalities of everyday life. This event will focus especially on the light they shed on the history of medieval northern England, and history-writing in the region.

Many important Lives of Saints (hagiographical works) were written in medieval northern England. Lives of Northumbrian saints were also produced elsewhere across medieval Europe, offering insight into the region’s wide-ranging connections. Saints’ Lives are vital sources for many aspects of medieval society, ranging from ecclesiastical institutions and theology to the practicalities of everyday life. This online study event will focus especially on the light they shed on the history of medieval northern England, and history-writing in the region.

A range of engaging speakers including our own RHC Director Dr Fiona Edmonds will pre-record videos which will be made available in advance to all those who register. You can watch these videos at a time of your own choosing, on our dedicated online space, in the days leading up to the live Q&A session on Saturday 20 November. This will be held via Microsoft Teams from 2.30-4 pm (please note that this is a slightly later time than usual), and will be a chance to discuss themes and ask questions of our speakers. Nearer the date we will be sending out full information on how to access the videos (which will remain available for some time after the event) as well as how to join the Q&A session to everyone who registers.

Presentations include:

• Dr Fiona Edmonds ( RHC Director and Reader in Regional History Lancaster University) – Introduction: History and Hagiography and The Iona connection: St Columba and St Aidan in Northumbrian texts
• Dr Andrew Sargent (Keele) Lichfield and the lands of St Chad: creating community in early medieval Mercia
• Dr Johanna Dale (University College London) A Northumbrian abroad: the cult of St Oswald in the medieval German empire
• Dr Christiania Whitehead (Lausanne) The afterlife of St Cuthbert: place, texts and ascetic tradition
• Dr Helen Birkett (Exeter) History and history-writing in the Life and Miracles of St Bega
• Dr Richard Sowerby (Edinburgh) The heirs of Bishop Wilfrid

Our events are extremely popular and many book up within the first few weeks. We strongly recommend that you book early to avoid disappointment. If you do have to cancel your booking, please give us five full working days’ notice and we will happily arrange a refund. Refunds can now only be made via electronic means. In order to issue a refund we need details of your account name, account number and sort-code. Payments made by card can be reimbursed via the same card details.