Cuthbert's Shrine

At Durham Cathedral is the shrine of St Cuthbert. Somehow managing to survive the Reformation, that transition from Romanism to Protestantism certainly left it plainer than it once was. Cuthbert lived 634-687 and was a generally good egg, bringing gospel light to pagan Northumbria.

I like honouring Christians of previous generations; enjoying the study of church history helps with this. Yet constructing shrines and offering devotions and prayers smacks of idolatry and paganism, the very concepts against which Cuthbert and his like spent their years opposing. Even we evangelicals can honour our predecessors too much, at Christ’s expense. Let us honour the past and its people but only glorify the one God, who was, and is, and is to come. Cuthbert deserves to be remembered, but he does not warrant a shrine.

And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. Mark 9:5-7

A.D