Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics 13 (1): 79–105 DOI: 10.2478/jef-2019-0005 “THE NARRATIVE IS AMBIGUOUS AND THAT LOCATION ISN’T THE RIGHT LOCATION”: PRESENTING AND INTERPRETING MEDIEVAL SAINTS TODAY IN CANTERBURY, DURHAM AND YORK TIINA SEPP PhD, Research Fellow Department of Estonian and Comparative Folklore Institute for Cultural Research and Fine Arts University of Tartu Ülikooli 18, 50090 Tartu, Estonia e-mail:
[email protected] ABSTRACT Drawing on research for the Pilgrimage and England’s Cathedrals, Past and Pre- sent project, this article explores how the project’s medieval case study cathedrals – Canterbury, Durham and York – present their saints and shrines, and how visitors react to and interpret them. While looking at various narratives – predominantly about saints in historical and contemporary contexts – attached to these cathedrals, I also aim to offer some glimpses into how people interact with and relate to space. I argue that beliefs and narratives about saints play a significant role in the pil- grimage culture of the cathedral. I will also explore how the lack of a clear central narrative about the saint leaves a vacancy that will be filled with various other narratives. KEYWORDS: saints • cathedrals • pilgrimage • Canterbury • Durham • York INTRODUCTION This article* will explore how three medieval cathedrals – Canterbury, Durham and York – present their saints and shrines, and how visitors react to and interpret them. * This research was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (grant num- ber AH/ L015005/1). The article is based on research conducted between 2014 and 2018 for the Pilgrimage and England’s Cathedrals, Past and Present interdisciplinary research project.