Have you ever heard of a king who refused to give up his faith, even when facing a brutal death? Right here in London, the church of St Edmund, King and Martyr, stands as a testament to one such king. St Edmund, the original Patron Saint of England before St. George, met his tragic end on November 20th, 869. St Edmund was the king of East Anglia. He bravely faced the invading Danish Vikings, also known as the Great Heathen Army. He refused their demands to renounce Christianity. The Vikings tied him to a tree, shot him with arrows, and finally beheaded him. A particularly poignant legend tells of a wolf guarding Edmund’s severed head, calling out to his followers until they found it. Miraculously, when his body was later exhumed, his head was reattached and his arrow wounds healed. St Edmund’s remains were moved to Beodricesworth, the town that would eventually bear his name: Bury St Edmunds. His shrine there became a place of pilgrimage, attracting visitors from across Europe. It’s fascinating to think that the church we stand before today honors this courageous king. While St Edmund’s remains were tragically lost during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the memory of his unwavering faith and courageous defiance continues to inspire. The church of St Edmund, King and Martyr in London serves as a powerful reminder of a king who chose faith over life and became a symbol of English resilience.
Southfields Methodist Church
Curiosity stirred within the heart of Southfields as a new chapter began. Southfields Methodist Church held its first public service