A modern day pilgrim badge for Lincoln

During the Middle Ages Lincoln Cathedral was a key site for pilgrims who made their pilgrimages to the shrine of St. Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, after his canonisation in 1220.

A custom of wearing pilgrim’s badges grew up alongside the arduous journeys. Pilgrims pinned badges to their hats and clothing to show their devotion to the saint whose shrine they had visited, which also had the added advantage that they were not asked to pay certain taxes and tolls along their journey. More importantly however, the medieval pilgrims believed that the healing powers of the saint’s shrine could be transferred to their badge through direct contact, which they could then carry with them for reverence and protection.

Medieval pilgrims had many reasons to take long and often difficult pilgrimages to holy places – some were seeking cures for illnesses, others looking for penance for their sins, and some to pray together with other pilgrims. St. Hugh was renowned, in particular, for his care of lepers, outcasts and the destitute, as well as his defence of ecclesiastical rights and liberties against the Plantagenet kings.

Lord Cormack, Chairman of the Historic Lincoln Trust, took the ‘Return to Lincolnshire’ theme which is part of the Lincoln Castle Revealed celebrations for 2015, and connected this to the idea of pilgrimage and a modern day pilgrim badge. The renowned jeweller Lexi Dick has designed a beautiful badge which depicts St. Hugh with a swan. The emblem of a swan has become associated with the saint following the story of the swan of Stowe which would follow him around and guard him while he slept.  

Lincoln’s modern day pilgrim badges will be on sale at the gift shops in Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle.