The Beacon on the Bay

This is an abstract of a report by Steve Dickinson

An Anglo-Saxon runic inscription is re-examined; part of a cross discovered in 1911 in the church of St.Mary the Virgin and St.Michael, at Great Urswick, Low Furness, Cumbria, England. Detailed analysis reveals that parts of the runic inscription overcut earlier names, (recovered through the analysis). It is suggested that the people named in the text, and two figures sculptured below it, include three significant members of the 7th century AD Irish and English Christian Church. This information allows us to reassess the nature of the Great Urswick site, and the location of the ‘Synod of Whitby’; a decisive 7th century AD meeting that profoundly influenced the structure of English Christianity through to the present day.

Examination of the landscape around the church, and the church itself, allows a presentation of new and emerging archaeological evidence for a major late and/or sub-Romano-British church and monastic foundation; subsequently influenced by Irish and Anglo-Saxon activity. A context for this early church and monastic foundation is suggested that includes the 5th century AD British St Ninian, and the early life of the British-born and educated St Patrick.

The Beacon on the Bay is a 72-page report with 8 colour plates, 2 A3 fold-out figures and 20 illustrations. It was written by Steve Dickinson and desktop-published in 2002.