Edmund and the Great Heathen Army

A king will fall, a saint will rise…

According to legend, in 869AD, King Edmund met the ‘Great Heathen Army’ in battle, was defeated, and brutally martyred. His cult would spread across Christendom in the centuries that followed and he would become England’s Patron Saint.  In death, Edmund’s spirit would be credited with healings, comfort, protection, and enforcing justice upon criminals and rulers. His name and relics would inspire political endeavours and combat. The Kings that followed would fear his spectral wrath.

This summer at Moyse’s Hall we will celebrate Edmund in life and in death like never before. Through academic partnership, we will meet Edmund in his 9th Century world, before exploring the rise and fall of his cult.

Family trails every day, with workshops and daytime events on selected dates, as well as an evening lecture series.

Date: Saturday 6th June – Sunday 4th October 2026

Time: 10am – 5pm (Monday – Saturday) and 12pm – 4pm (Sunday)

Venue: Moyse’s Hall Museum, Bury St Edmunds

Price: Adults £5.50 | Child (6yr – 16yr) £4 | Full Time Student £4 | Family ticket (2 adults & 3 children) £19 | Under 5s FREE (no ticket required)

All exhibition tickets include access to the full museum collection including:
– West Suffolk’s infamous Crime and Punishment displays with a book bound in human skin, witchcraft, and more
– The history of the Abbey and our treasures of the medieval period
– A rotating display of our fine art collection which includes Mary Beale and Sybil Andrews
– The museum’s world-renowned Gershom Parkington Clock Collection and Suffolk Regiment displays

This event is promoted by West Suffolk Heritage