Saint Edward the Confessor

Edward was born at Islip in Oxfordshire sometime between 1002 and 1005, the elder son of King Aethelred (also known as `the unready') and his second wife Emma of Normandy, the daughter of Richard I Duke of Normandy. When he was about ten years old, his mother took him and his younger brother Alfred to the safety of her native Normandy, to protect them from the Vikings and the Danes.  The Danes, led by Cnut subsequently conquered most of England.

After the death of Aethelred in 1016, his son by his first marriage, Edmund `Ironside`, reigned over what remained of the kingdom, just Wessex. After seven months, Edmund died and Cnut took the throne. In 1017 Aethelred's widow, Emma, returned from Normandy to become King Cnut's second wife. They had a son, Harthacnut.

Edward remained in Normandy under the guardianship of his uncle Duke Richard II.  Whilst in exile Edward made a vow, that if he should return in safety to his Kingdom he would make a pilgrimage to St Peter's, Rome. He may also have taken a vow of chastity at this time.

King Cnut died in 1035 and was followed on the throne by one of his sons from his first marriage, Harold Harefoot, and after his death in 1040 by the son of Cnut's marriage to Emma, Harthacnut. It must have appeared to Edward that he would never ascend to his father's throne, but in 1041, the greatly disliked Harthacnut, in order to rule England more easily, invited Edward to share his throne. Harthacnut died suddenly in 1042 and so at the age of about 40 Edward at last was recognized as King of all England, and was crowned at Winchester during Easter 1043.

Edward, prior to his return to England, had avoided death in battle and survived betrayal and assassination attempts. When he eventually became King, he faced treachery from his mother, Emma, whom he had to temporarily disgrace in 1043.  There were also the powerful ambitions of  over-mighty subjects such as Earl Godwin and his family. Additionally there was the constant threat of invasion from Norway or Denmark.

In 1045, Edward married Earl Godwin's daughter, Edith, but by 1051, he had banished the Godwinessons from the Kingdom for an abortive rebellion, he also committed his wife Queen Edith to a nunnery at Wherwell in Wessex. This banishment of the strong Godwin family left a power vacuum in the South of the Kingdom; in 1052, the Earl and his family returned by force; when peace was made the Queen and the Godwin family was reinstated.

King Edward reigned for 24 years. During this period he rescinded the Danegeld, repelled various invasion attempts, restored stability and virtual peace to England. One trait that ran throughout Edward's life was his worldly-wise ability to survive. He caused most of his enemies to disappear and outlived almost all who had disputed his authority. He was considered a fortunate King, blessed by Heaven.

Edward found it impossible to fulfill his promise to make a pilgrimage to Rome, and the Pope released him from this vow, on condition that he founded or restored a monastery to St Peter. This he did by building, in Norman style, a new church to replace the Saxon church at Westminster. The church was consecrated on Holy Innocents' Day, 28th December 1065. The King was too ill to attend and died a few days later on 5th January 1066. He was buried before the High Altar of his new church.

King Edward may have kept his vow of chastity for he and Queen Edith had no children. There was therefore no direct heir to the throne. After Edward's death Harold Godwinesson, son of Earl Godwin, assumed the throne, but William of Normandy made a counter claim. Both Harold and William stated that they had been nominated as successor by Edward. This conflict resulted in the Battle of Hastings and the subsequent Norman Conquest.

When Henry II became King of England in 1154 both the Saxon and Norman lines came together.  This was hailed as bringing to an end the divisions that had been caused by the Norman Conquest. 

Edward the Confessor, as he was known, had not been a particularly successful king, but his personal character and piety endeared him to his people. In appearance he is represented as tall, dignified and kindly with rosy cheeks and a long white beard. He was regarded as a saint long before he was officially canonized as Saint and Confessor by Pope Alexander III in 1161. A Confessor is a particular type of saint. The term applies to those who suffered for their faith and demonstrated their sanctity in the face of worldly temptations, but who were not martyrs.

On 13th October 1163 in the presence of the King, Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury and many other Saxon and Norman Bishops the saint's body was moved to a resplendent shrine within Westminster Abbey. King Henry II prepared the shrine.

The legends of Edward's life and some of the miracles associated with him are depicted on a stone frieze on his shrine in Westminster Abbey. One of these concerns the choice of Edward as future heir to the throne regardless of his supposedly older brothers. This probably has a logical explanation, as it was normal at that time for the family of a royal bride to demand that male offspring of the marriage should have preference over the children of any earlier marriages. It however appeared miraculous to the people of England, because although fifth in the line of succession Edward eventually came to the throne as had been predicted.

There are many miracles attributed to Edward; for instance, he was supposed to have dreamed of the drowning of the King of Denmark, who was sailing to England with his army to invade England. This invasion did not take place.

It is also believed that King Edward and Earl Leofric whilst attending Mass at the monastery of St Peter saw a vision of Christ.

Another is also the vision of the seven sleepers of Ephesus turning over, after many centuries, onto their left sides. This movement was seen as a portent of the dire things to come, during the next seventy years. Envoys were sent to Greece where they confirmed his vision.

These are but some of the miracles associated with Edward, there are also others related to his powers of healing.

There are local legends concerning Edward. Whilst staying at his hunting lodge, north of Romford, he ordered the nightingales that were disturbing his study to be silent. Martlets heraldic birds now form part of his Coat of Arms.

The most famous legend tells how Edward met a beggar seeking alms. The King gave the man his ring with the words "I have no money but have a ring". Some years later the ring was returned to the ageing Edward by pilgrims returning from the Holy Land, they said that the ring had been returned to them by St John the Evangelist. St John's greeting to Edward foretold his death.