Thousands celebrate 1300th anniversary of Beverley’s saint
A major community event took place in Beverley in October 2021 to celebrate the 1300th anniversary of town’s founder, St John of Beverley.
Eight heritage sites across Beverley came together to create a mini-pilgrimage trail around the town. Those who followed In the Footsteps of St John included the town mascot, Bertie the Beaver, and the Mayor of Beverley, Councillor Linda Johnson & her consort.
As well as getting their ‘Pilgrim Passports’ stamped at the heritage sites along the route, many people carried one of the 1300 scallop shells (an ancient symbol of pilgrimage) which had been gathered especially for the festival. The shells were collected by festival goers from the medieval porch of St Mary’s Church which was bedecked with backdrops painted by local artist Emma Garness. High up above the church – at the very top of the hoarding currently up for the restoration works – flew a huge banner which previously stood outside the British Library in 2018-19 for its smash hit Anglo-Saxon exhibition.