Translation, canonization, and the cult of the saints in England, 1160-1220

The twelfth century marked a significant change in the way that saints were made. While previously sanctification had been a primarily local phenomenon, overseen by local bishops through the ritual practice of translation, throughout the twelfth century the development of formalized, juridical canonization processes allowed the papacy to oversee the process of making a new saint. This thesis addresses the nature of this shift, arguing that even as canonization proceedings became more common, the ritual of translation still retained significance as an act of local cult building. Focusing on the cults of Edward the Confessor and Thomas Becket, both of whom were canonized by the papacy and subsequently translated by their communities, this study will show that the translation ceremony remained significant through the twelfth century as a moment at which saints were commemorated, their lives narrated, and their remains enshrined within the sacral landscape of the community.