Richard III: York Minster backs Leicester for burial
York Minster is now backing Leicester's claim as the final resting place for the remains of Richard III.
The northern cathedral issued a statement yesterday supporting the re-interment of the bones into the parish of St Martin's – where the king was buried 528 years ago following his defeat at Bosworth.
The news is a blow to City of York Council, which launched an online petition, signed by more than 11,500 people, calling for York to be allowed to claim the skeleton and reinter it at its cathedral. The council has also written to Buckingham Palace and the Ministry of Justice about the issue.
However, without York Minster's participation in the campaign, it would appear York's fight for the bones has collapsed.
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York Minster said in a statement on its website yesterday: "It was Leicester Franciscans who gave him burial and the cathedral has a major memorial to his memory at its heart.
"When the possibility of an excavation of the Greyfriars site began, it was agreed from the start any remains found would be reinterred in Leicester.
"When the archaeologists found an intact body, the Ministry of Justice licence (giving permission for exhumation) was drawn up in those terms and explicitly named Leicester Cathedral.
"The Chapter supports the terms of the Ministry of Justice licence and the wish of Chapter of Leicester that Richard should be reinterred in Leicester Cathedral. The Chapter of York commends Richard to Leicester's care and to the cathedral community's prayers."
The statement came after the Leicester Mercury reported yesterday the Ministry of Justice had said the decision of where to bury the king's remains lay squarely in the hands of the University of Leicester.
City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "We are very pleased the Cathedral Chapter in York has put an end to any unseemly bickering about the re-interment of Richard III."
Responding to the news of York Minster's withdrawal from the furore surrounding the medieval remains, Leicestershire County Council leader Nick Rushton said: "I look forward to welcoming Ricardians from York and elsewhere to visit Leicestershire."
The argument as to where he should be buried reached the House Commons yesterday. Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth stood up in response to two Yorkshire MPs who claimed Leicester's links to Richard III were "historically dodgy".
Replying, Mr Ashworth said: "On Richard III, the case for Leicester is overwhelming."
Despite the halt to York's plans to bring home the bones, some supporters of the campaign have said the fight is not over.
Steve Hughes, editor of York's daily paper, The Press, said "There's a huge strength of feeling in the city that as the last Yorkist King in England and, in line with his wishes, he should be buried in York."
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by Oswine
Monday, February 18 2013, 1:36PM
“Consecration: "solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious".
Desecration: "violation depriving something of its sacred charachter or disrespectful contemptuous-treatment against something holy-sacred".
It would not be practical for the remains of King Richard the 3rd to be placed-back at Grey Friars but it is within the consecrated area of Leicester Cathedral. Note: St.Martin's gained Cathedral status only in 1927. Before then it was a parish church and the demolished Grey Friars was in that consecrated parish.”
by Oswine
Sunday, February 17 2013, 7:22PM
“Respecting consecrated ground and holy-burial rights is respect for the dead by the living.
Wherever King Richard the 3rd may or may not have wanted to be buried his remains should not be "desecrated", so therefor they should stay within the consecrated area, indeed the demolised Grey Friars being within the same consecrated St.Martin's parish. The remains of the King to be placed inside Leicester Cathedral would be respectful to the consecrated parish and holy-rights.”
by PegPowler
Saturday, February 09 2013, 5:51PM
“Of course, the Dean of York Minster was, until recently, Dean of Leicester...
Despite this, York's campaign certainly hasn't come to a halt: http://tinyurl.com/a9o9pm8
Just saying. It's not as clear cut as the Mercury report makes out and this wrangle could go on for a long time yet :(”
by knibbsie
Saturday, February 09 2013, 5:44PM
“Oswine - what a cerebral comment! no sh"t Sherlock! That is why living people show respect for the dead and as that is a christian thing to do and you say you're one why don't you or give your evidence as to why Richard would want to be in Leicester and no it isn't because of the spicy food either - he's dead!! Leicester is a historical dead loss really and you're all expecting a dead guy who never wanted be here to change that! By the way I am from Leicester but right is right!”
by Oswine
Saturday, February 09 2013, 4:38AM
“Someone who is dead does not have a say in repatriation but someone who is alive would or would not.”
by Disgruntled69
Friday, February 08 2013, 8:30PM
“My dear faithfull citizens of York...
Great to hear from you all again... been a long time... thought you had forgotten me, especially as i didn't see you at the big bash... can't remember much about it... must have been a good one though cause i've got a splitting headache!
The strangest thing happened... must have fallen asleep cause i was dreaming i was lying on a beach in the sun, and then the next thing i knew there's this blinding light and here i am back in Leicester...
And what a great place it is too...
Friendly people - almost sound Northern!
and as for the food, wow i've never had gruel like it... really spicy! great for clearing the mud out your ears...
Anyway guess what i'm trying to say is...
Thanks ever so much for the invite, but i think i'll stay here...
After all it is the "heart of England" and from here I can see all of my loyal subjects in the North, South, East & West...
But please do come and see me, be great to see you again, after all it's only down the M1 road thingy...
and after all the Mayor has already spent a huge amount of wonga on a new home for me... it would be rude not to!
Yours Kingly
Richard of Leicester! ;-) xx”
by knibbsie
Friday, February 08 2013, 8:20PM
“fair comment but the principle of repatriation remains the same!”
by Oswine
Friday, February 08 2013, 8:04PM
“The postings are becoming a diversion away from Leicester and the main debate. Please let good-people of other cultures living in Leicester who have become part of the peaceful community have a right to their say in respect of their views and/or religious guide-lines regarding a respectful burial-ground, although cremation has been a tradition amongst some cultures and becoming-so in this country by many people whatever their faith simply because there is now becoming a lack of space in most cemeteries or graveyards, indeed ashes of a cremated person could be placed anywhere. However, what are people's opinions about a shrine to a person or a grave-headstone in dedicated-memory.
Kind regards,
Raymond.”
by C_G_Lee
Friday, February 08 2013, 7:39PM
“Napoleon's arm is interred in a huge sarcophagus in Paris. Where the rest of him is I don't think anyone knows!”
by knibbsie
Friday, February 08 2013, 7:33PM
“The deranged Philippa Langley who booted Leicester Uni up the bottom to get them to do anything comes from Darlington - York is nearer to Darlington than Leicester and I repeat what is to do with anything other than the wishes of the deceased? He who in a puerile fashion takes the mick out of peoples names has already IMHO lost the argument that he is failing to engage in in an adult manner!”