William of Norwich

St. Peter’s Church is one of very few churches which has a connection to

“Little Saint William of Norwich”.

william’s baptism in haveringland

Records show that William was born on Candlemas Day in 1132 or 1133. He was the son of Wenstan and Elvira. Although we are not told exactly where he was born, his baptism in Haveringland was described by Thomas of Monmouth, a monk in the Cathedral Priory of Norwich.

Below is the 1896 translation by Dr. Jessop of Scarning of the writings of Thomas of Monmouth:

When he was weaned, Wenstan invited his kinsmen to a feast, and the Priest of Haveringland, who baptised him, was present. During the feast “a man who was undergoing penance, with iron bands upon his arms, presented himself to guests as if begging for alms, who after dinner waxed merry, while he held the child in his hands as if suddenly the bands broke and shivered into pieces…… The penitent, set free of Divine Favour, went his way giving thanks, and the priest aforesaid who was present among the guests, collecting the rings, placed them in his Church at Haveringland.

Nothing is known of these rings today.

william moves to norwich

From the writings of Thomas of Monmouth, we know that William moved to Norwich in March 1144 to become a scullion (an apprentice tanner) of the Archdeacon of Norwich.

It was Good Friday in the year 1144 when William’s partially buried body, head shaven and with the puncture marks of thorns, was found in Thorpe Woods just outside the Norwich town boundary.

The Sheriff of Norwich declined to investigate. He even offered sanctuary in Norwich castle to those who were accused by William’s family. 

the miracles of little st. william

As well as the miracle at William’s baptism feast, he is also credited with several miraculous events after his death.  Thomas of Monmouth recorded a rose flower growing on his grave in winter through the snow and cold, and then healings taking place at the site.  As a result of his apparent martyrdom and the reported miracles, William was soon venerated as a saint in and around Norwich.  A fact which brought prestige, pilgrims and money to the area.

a bell dedicated to st. william

One of the three bells in Haveringland Church is dedicated to St. William. It has this inscriptions on its waist:

+SCE: WILLW : MARTIR : ORA : PRO : NOBIS

This is believed to be the only bell dedicated to St. William of Norwich. The bell commemorates the baptism and probable birthplace of St. William of Norwich.

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the Haveringland Chronicles project

As part of the Haveringland Chronicles project, we will be researching the following themes:

• The story of William of Norwich
• Local connections
• Blood libel: the play
• Blood libel history
• Blood libel interpretations
• Exhibition and conference

Please revisit this page soon to follow our progress.

References:

• Thomas of Monmouth, Life and Miracles of St. William of Norwich, ed. Jessop and James (Cambridge, 1896)
• William of Norwich, The Jewish Encyclopaedia
• Saint William, Catholic Online