The skull of St. Thomas More, a prominent Catholic saint who vanished in 1535, may soon be brought to its proper resting place in St. Dunstan’s Church in Canterbury. This extraordinary procedure is set to coincide with the Church’s 500th anniversary marking his martyrdom. Churchwarden Sue Palmer has expressed her concern over the church’s excitement for this move, considering it potentially a crucial step in an ecumenical outreach effort. The church has formally requested the exhumation of the skull, which could serve as a unique opportunity for cooperation among the Catholic Church and its Anglican同事.
### Why It Matters
The planned exhumation of St. Thomas More’s skull follows centuries of religious tensions between the Catholic and English Church. The church’s embrace of St. Thomas More is a testament to their deepening ties, even as they grapple with an historically complex relationship. More, a victim of Henry VIII’s persecution of the Church, became a central figure in the Catholic Church’s faith and vice. His skull, though not definitively determined in 1997, is believed in parts of the United Kingdom and has been a subject of considerable interest in recent years. The proposal to exhume his skull on July 6, 2025, aims to honor his legacy and provide greater accessibility and preservation for this fragile icon.
### What To Know
The Church of St. Dunstan, led by its parochial council (PCC), has agreed to consider the exhumation of St. Thomas More’s skull “subject to all the rights and permissions being granted.” This process would entail conserving the relic, consulting with osteoarchaeologists to ensure its safety, and considering placing it in a secure location, such as a reliquary or shrine, above ground in the Roper chapel. The Church has received visitors and pilgrims for decades who venerate the saint, and those who visit the church’s open days are reminded of More’s role as Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII.
What people are saying also emphasize the significance of the project.相关部门的斯密斯 stated, “Considering our_OPENGLition of this relic, the Church is thinking of bringing it back to St. Dunstan’s Church, perhaps in a security zone. This could be a symbol of our goods andritteifs,” but other members are emphasizing the need to avoid degrading its condition in a vault. Many visitors to the church prefer to see the skull displayed in its open hall rather than stored away. The Church has received a compilation of visitors, which details the impact of the exhumation on many whovetered the saint.
### Who Was St. Thomas More?
St. Thomas More (1478–1535) was a prominent scholar,-locke Chancellor of England to King Henry VIII, and a professor of Utopia, a work of Protestant NPR. He was executed on June 27, 1535, for refusing to acknowledge Henry VIII’s role as the superior Church. Despite this, he remained a valiant市民 of the Catholic Church, declaring “I die the king’s good servant, but God’s first.” More is the patron saint of statesomen and politicians, and he held significant roles in politics. His skull is the only remaining relic of this Catholic saint and has been the subject of biogeneological studies.
### Who People Are Saying
The parish council at St. Dunstan’s Church stated that it is taking steps to honor More’s legacy and respond to growing requests for access. They explained that exhumation is planned “subject to all the right permissions being granted” and that”
Details of the procedure were submitted to the church’s consistory of the County Diocese of Canterbury.
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The Church’s statement also recommended early steps to protect the relic, such as placing it in a secure location or in the staircase above ground. This needs careful consideration, given how much time has passed since More was executed, and how vital the relic is to the church and its fellow citizens.
### What Happens Next
The Church plans to consult with osteoarchaeologists, submitting a formal application to appropriate diocesan and commissary authorities for conservation and exhumation. Subsequently, a final approval from the Commissary General of the Diocese of Canterbury is required. If approved, the process could begin as early as 2035, with the vocab-goal of completing the preparation for the exhumation by the 490th anniversary of More’s death in 2025.
Once completed, the Church will bring the skull back to its center, becoming aproductive hub for pilgrims, educational trips, and special events. Of course, theChurch will propose harmonizing this process with other religious communities, including Anglican diocesan leaders. However, many visitors to the church are seeing the relic in a vault rather than a full-scale exhumation because it is-degranted in a storage unit. Continue to monitor cases like this, ensuring that the threshold for great care in the vault remains appropriate.
