On 24 April 1001, a villager ploughing a field in the vilage of Slepe,
on the River Ouse near Huntingdon, uncovered a stone coffin. This was
the discovery of the relics of Saint Ivo, after whom Slepe eventually
became known as Saint Ives.
On 24 April 1001, a villager ploughing a field in the vilage of Slepe,
on the River Ouse near Huntingdon, uncovered a stone coffin. This was
the discovery of the relics of Saint Ivo, after whom Slepe eventually
became known as Saint Ives.
From this event springs the development of the town of Saint Ives from the village of Slepe: the great Fair of Saint Ivo, held each year, one of the greatest annual fairs of mediaeval England, a fair which shaped the very layout of the town; the stone Bridge over the Ouse with its Chapel; and from the fair the nursery rhyme, As I was going to Saint Ives, the 19th century cattle markets, and the modern Michaelmas Fair and bank holiday markets.
To commemorate this millenary it is planned to hold a service of celebration involving representatives of the whole town. This will take place on the anniversary itself, 24 April 2001. Later in the year, it is planned to hold a ‘study day’ of talks and exhibits. More details of the latter when they are available.
The Order of Service for 24 April is available as a pdf file.
The March edition of The Spire features more of the story of St Ivo: who he was and what happened to the remains.
The date 24 April 1001 is recorded in the earliest known history of St Ivo, which dates from around 1090. This source also describes the events as taking place 10 years after another event in 992.
The picture, above, is a modern depiction of St Ivo, hanging in the parish church of All Saints. Photograph by kind permission of Phillip Grosset.