Oswald's Raven
@oswaldsraven.bsky.social
150 followers 150 following 66 posts
Account of the AHRC-funded project "Liturgical and literary landscapes: the cult of St Oswald of Northumbria in the German-speaking world" run by Johanna Dale (UCL) & Sarah Bowden (KCL). www.oswaldusrex.co.uk
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oswaldsraven.bsky.social
I'm giving an online lecture next Thursday evening, in aid of Peterborough Cathedral. I'll be talking about Oswald's cult at Peterborough and his continental connections. There will be arm relics and ravens! 💪 #MedievalSky

To book tickets: peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/event/in-per...
ppt slide. Title "The surprising afterlife of a Northumbrian king: the cult of St Oswald in Peterborough and beyond". Image from a medieval German manuscript shows Oswald and Aidan at the Easter feast, with beggars. Gold background and architectural frame.
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
Delighted with the cover of "Liturgy, Literature, and History: Oswald of Northumbria and the Cult of Saints in the Middle Ages", which is coming out with @britishacademy.bsky.social and @livunipress.bsky.social later this month!

liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10....
Book cover. King Oswald wearing a crown on a gold background - image taken from a medieval German manuscript.
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adamchapman.bsky.social
A little snapshot into the research colleagues in #Essex are undertaking on interwar #Harwich and #Dovercourt - and the theme of the accompanying blogpost is the rise (and rise) of motor transport. #Skystorians
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vch-home.bsky.social
Join us online on 24 Sept to celebrate the 250th VCH Big Red Book!

Founded in 1899, @vchlondon.bsky.social is writing the #history of every place in #England, with partners across the country. We'll also celebrate #LocalHistory, #communityhistory & #place based history more widely. All welcome!
https://www.history.ac.uk/news-events/events/celebrating-local-place-based-history-westmorland-250th-vch-big-red-book#:~:text=Event%20information%3E&text=In%20September%202025%2C%20the%20UK's,and%20community%20history%20more%20widely.
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
I empathise, Fraser. The job market outside of academia is not rosy, and there are lots of barriers to entry into related fields. I really hope something comes through for you soon.
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
Thanks - realise from my bio that it is not obvious that I’m a trustee of #VCHEssex! We’ve just had our quarterly meeting, but I will mention it at the next meeting. Silver End is v interesting and I agree could be a good short.
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
Main focus for #VCHEssex is currently finishing off our #BigRedBook on Harwich, but I know we are starting to think about possible future projects (and funding for them), so will pass on the idea of Silver End (and possible Crittall support).
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
Delighted that our animation will soon be available in German 🇩🇪 as part of a set of resources to support German teaching at KS3. Great to work with animator Charlie Minnion again, and with translator and children's author Kathrin Tordasi.

Full English version: oswaldusrex.co.uk/animation/
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northages.bsky.social
Aug 31: Feast of Aidan (†651). Monk of Iona, first bishop and abbot of Lindisfarne. Prelate for whom Bede reserved arguably his highest praise. Evangelist remembered for going everywhere on foot and for his ‘gentleness, devotion and moderation’. Finan succeeded him. #medievalsky
Statue of St Aidan depicting a bald man with a crosier before a Celtic cross.
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
Really looking forward to celebrating the publication of Catherine’s book at the excellent independent bookshop in #Maldon! 📕 🥂
cathamclarke.bsky.social
Join me at #Maldon #Books on Weds 10 Sept, 7pm, in conversation with Dr Johanna Dale - a trustee of Victoria County History #Essex. We'll be discussing A #History of England in 25 Poems, including 'The Battle of Maldon' - looking forward to reading some gorgeous #OldEnglish aloud! Info in AltText 👇
https://maldonbooks.com/event-a-history-of-england-in-25-poems
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oswaldsraven.bsky.social
Happy St. Oswald’s Day! To paraphrase the words of Henry of Avranches (who was commissioned to write a verse life of Oswald for Peterborough Abbey C13th), “May Oswald lay his incorrupt right arm on all your enterprises”!
A wooden carving on the stalls in Peterborough Cathedral showing an abbot of Peterborough shown holding Oswald’s arm
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
Happy St. Oswald’s Day! To paraphrase the words of Henry of Avranches (who was commissioned to write a verse life of Oswald for Peterborough Abbey C13th), “May Oswald lay his incorrupt right arm on all your enterprises”!
A wooden carving on the stalls in Peterborough Cathedral showing an abbot of Peterborough shown holding Oswald’s arm
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
Enjoy, Rebecca! A long time ago I did the journey all through France on a sailing boat (mast taken down in Port-Saint-Louis and re-stepped in Honfleur) The last section below Rouen was very memorable - we set a speed over ground record that we’ve never beaten since - that tide is something else!!!
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
I’ve got William and Harold Christmas decorations, courtesy of Reading Museum!

reading-museum-shop.myshopify.com/collections/...
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
I’d missed this one - thank you. It’s interesting to see that he was still popular as a patron saint in C20th - I’ve found a few of them!
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
Thanks to everyone who replied to the original post - I've now mapped all the churches you mentioned 😀
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
I've now mapped 212 Oswald churches & chapels and I'm sure there are more I'm still missing. Just found an interesting outlier in Malta - dedicated in 1921, it was the chapel of the Royal Naval Hospital in Mtarfa. 🇲🇹 #MedievalSky
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
I've now mapped 184 Oswald churches & chapels (not including chapels in monasteries & cathedrals).

The pattern is pretty striking, but I'm sure I'm missing some. Does Oswald make it to the Iberian Peninsula or further into Central Europe? Please help #MedievalSky!

www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/v...
Oswald church dedications - Google My Maps
This map shows churches (or ruined churches) dedicated to Oswald of Northumbria. Only churches where the dedication (medieval or modern) to Oswald is certain are included. The map is a work in progre...
www.google.com
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
Sorry I wasn't able to meet up you - sadly I was not sailing, but recovering from illness!
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
Delighted to be a step closer to this book coming out. Honoured to be editor of a volume in the @britishacademy.bsky.social series & grateful to the contributors both for their wonderful essays & their prompt return of corrected proofs!
@livunipress.bsky.social @uclhistory.bsky.social #MedievalSky
Proof of the title page of the edited volume, "Literature, Liturgy and History: Oswald of Northumbria and the Cult of Saints in the High Middle Ages"
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
Thank you, Catherine, your support, guidance and enthusiasm are all much appreciated!
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cathamclarke.bsky.social
A privilege to attend the first day of this brilliant conference, as well as the Advisory Board meeting for the Literary and Liturgical Landscapes project the previous day. Wide-ranging but also wonderfully coherent topics and perspectives - lots to keep on thinking about! Thank you and congrats.
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
We had an amazing two days of discussions about landscapes of sanctity, literal and metaphorical, medieval and modern. Thanks to @ucl-ias.bsky.social for hosting us and to all the speakers and delegates for the thought-provoking papers and questions!
oswaldsraven.bsky.social
We had an amazing two days of discussions about landscapes of sanctity, literal and metaphorical, medieval and modern. Thanks to @ucl-ias.bsky.social for hosting us and to all the speakers and delegates for the thought-provoking papers and questions!
Reposted by Oswald's Raven
lvhicks.bsky.social
Then we heard about Hild and Whitby from Tom Pickles and Barking from Josh Davies. I flagged a bit due to migraine (which thankfully went away), hence the lack of updates. It was an absolutely amazing conference. Many thanks to Johanna and Sarah and all the speakers. 2/2