Saints and Fashionability

In the 13th and 14th century the cult of the Virgin Mary was at its peak and many churches were dedicated or re-dedicated to her. In Herefordshire alone there are 50 dedications to St. Mary (e.g.Ross-on-Wye, Fownhope, Credenhill, Burghill, Much Cowarne and Craswall) (D.M. Annett, Saints in Herefordshire: A Study of Dedications, Logaston Press, 1999, p. 41). 

In the 14th and 15th centuries obscure local saints fell out of favour and were replaced by more fashionable saints, for example Lawrence, Giles and Bartholomew. Not only did individuals have favourite saints, groups of people with a common interest did too. Giles was the patron saint of lepers and is often associated with leper hospitals. In Herefordshire there are six dedications to St. Giles (eg. Aston, Goodrich and Mansel Gamage).

At a time when life was short and often full of hardship, it may have been comforting to call on a favoured saint to intercede with God to bring about things beyond one's control, such as healing or a better harvest. If possible, a visit to the shrine of a saint might be considered even more effective than a simple prayer (and could be a bit of a holiday or even an adventure!). Hereford Cathedral, with the shrine of St. Thomas Cantilupe, was an important centre of pilgrimage during the Middle Ages.

[Original author: Toria Forsyth-Moser, 2002]