St Edmundsbury Cathedral

I’m really enjoying exploring England on day trips. One of the best bits is meeting all sorts of different people. Locals, world travelers, old and young. Today I met the cutest little girl: “Are you from America? Your accent is lovely. I can talk like that too mimics my accent… Can I have your autograph?” =]

St Edmund is named for Edmund, who was crowned King of East Anglia at the age of 15. In 869, he lead an army against the invading Danes and was captured and tortured to death. Legend has it that Edmund refused to renounce his strong Catholic faith, and thus died a martyr.

The Cathedral stands within the boundaries of an old Abbey built in 633, which was renamed in St. Edmund’s honor. For the next five centuries, pilgrims from all over the world traveled to worship at the shrine of St Edmunds. In fact, St Edmund was held to be the patron saint of England before St George.