Rare religious artifacts found in river linked to Archbishop of Canterbury

Key Points:

• Archaeologist Gary Bankhead discovered a rare collection of Christian religious artifacts deliberately thrown into the River Wear in Durham, including a bronze crucifix, silver trowel, christening spoon, and medals linked to significant religious and historical events.
• The hoard has been linked to Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1961 to 1974, with the artifacts reportedly discarded under the instruction of his wife, Joan Ramsey, and carried out by their housekeeper, Audrey Heaton.
• Bankhead found the items were deliberately grouped and weighted down beneath Durham’s Prebends Bridge, suggesting a purposeful and covert disposal rather than random loss or theft.
• The disposal likely reflected the inability to sell or donate the items, with Heaton expressing distress over discarding valuable religious objects, highlighting a continued tradition of depositing personal religious artifacts in the river from medieval times into the 20th century.
• Bankhead emphasized his focus on the historical significance rather than monetary value, donating his share of the hoard's valuation to charity and noting the cultural importance of the artifacts' craftsmanship and stories.