Kentish Pilgrims in Canterbury Cathedral's Miracle Windows

A re-evaluation of the stained glass windows in Canterbury Cathedral's Trinity Chapel reveals that three surviving miracle panels, previously thought to depict pilgrims from Oxford, Essex, and Warwickshire, actually portray miracles experienced by individuals from Canterbury and Dover. This discovery highlights a previously unrecognized focus on local Kentish pilgrims, including William of Dene (a paralyzed knight), Goditha (a crippled laywoman from Canterbury), and Saxeva (a woman from Dover suffering abdominal complaints). The findings suggest that all surviving narratives in the nIV window commemorate Thomas Becket's Kentish cult, mirroring similar 'donor' or 'signature' panels found in contemporary stained glass at Chartres Cathedral. This study challenges prior interpretations and underscores the regional significance of the cathedral's artistic and religious heritage.

Koopmans, R. (2017). Kentish Pilgrims in Canterbury Cathedral’s Miracle Windows. Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, 80(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1086/jwci44841042