A Bishop, a Small Boy, and Flowers

When I was a student, a number of teacher training establishments in cathedral cities were named after famous bishops linked to them. I considered ‘Bishop Grosseteste’ college, Lincoln; I attended ‘Bishop Lonsdale’ College, Derby.   

Yesterday we visited Lincoln Cathedral. Peter, our exceedingly knowledgeable guide, helped us to learn about British politics, history, religion, geology, architecture…

Peter described William the Conqueror’s political strategy, controlling Anglo-Saxon religion through major cities, the cathedral’s origins in 1072, and the completion of the first cathedral in 1092.

I learnt something of Bishop Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln from 1235 to 1253. He was a man of influence – a statesman, writer, philosopher, theologian, educator and accomplished scientist.

His studies, it seems, prejudiced him against the Jews. His theological position was that the Jews had stubbornly and knowingly rejecting Christ. This was part of wider political antisemitic opinions, leading to significant suspicion and intolerance, of Jews throughout England at the time.

Peter the guide pointed us to a tomb chest and shrine of ‘Little Hugh’ (not to be confused with St Hugh, who also features in the history of Lincoln Cathedral)  

One day in 1255 nine-year-old Hugh was out playing with friends. The lad didn’t return home. After a city-wide search he was eventually found dead at the bottom of a well in the property of a Lincoln Jew. Feelings and prejudices were stirred locally and nationally.

People made up stories. Opinions became facts. Hugh’s death was falsely attributed to the Jews. Ninety Jews were arrested, eighteen were executed…

It’s a story about politics, religion, power and prejudice that could happen today.

My mind went back to Pete Seeger’s ‘Where have all the flowers gone’. In 1955 he described the cycle of futile death. Flowers are picked by young girls… young girls give their flowers to young men… young men become soldiers… soldiers finish in graveyards… graveyards are covered with flowers.

Prejudice and futile death continue today. Those calling for compassion, peace and social justice still ask, ‘When will they ever learn?’