Jenny Murray

University of Glasgow


My research will provide an innovative materials-based perspective to studying the Cult of Saints through the identification and recording of artefacts and buildings associated with Saint Magnus (d.c.1116), a Scandinavian warrior saint whose medieval cult centred on the Earldom of Orkney, spread throughout the North Atlantic archdiocese of Trondheim and into Scotland and England. Through interpretation of the archaeology of Magnus, this research will assess the validity of materiality to expand knowledge of saintly veneration and pilgrimage as applicable to saints’ cults within the medieval Christian world and significantly on sea-connected cults which have received little attention to date.