Osburh of Coventry facts for kids
Osburh (also known as Osburga) was an early Anglo-Saxon saint. She was a holy person from the time before the Norman Conquest of England. Her remains were kept at Coventry Cathedral.
Some people believe Osburh was an abbess (the leader of a group of nuns) at Coventry Abbey in the early 1000s. However, it's thought that people honored her even before the Viking Age, which means she might have lived much earlier.
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Who Was Saint Osburh?
Early Mentions and Records
Writers from the 1300s and 1400s mentioned Osburh. A note from the 1300s talks about an early nunnery (a place where nuns lived) in Coventry.
John Rous, a writer from the 1400s, said that Cnut the Great destroyed an old church or monastery in Coventry. He also wrote that "holy virgin Osburga now laid there in a noble shrine." A shrine is a special, holy place where a saint's remains are kept. This shrine was probably in the south part of the church.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (an old history book) says that the area around Coventry was destroyed in 1016. This makes it possible that King Cnut did attack a monastery in Coventry.
Her Connection to Coventry Abbey
In 1043, a document called Leofric's Coventry charter was written. This document said that Coventry Abbey was dedicated to Osburh, along with Saint Mary, Saint Peter, and All Saints. "Dedicated to" means it was named in her honor. However, this dedication might have been added to the document later.
A list of saints' resting places from the 1100s, written by Hugh Candidus, also says that Osburh's remains were in Coventry.
Feast Day and Relics
Osburh is mentioned in a Scandinavian book from the 1200s called the Ribe Martyrology. This book lists saints and their special days. It says that Osburh's feast day (a day to remember and honor her) is January 21.
In 1539, a description of the holy objects (called relics) at Coventry was made. It said that Osburh's head was kept in a special container made of copper and gold.
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