St Oswald of Worcester’s Day
Stained glass portrait of St Oswald. Source: Orthodox Christianity website
Today is St Oswald of Worcester’s Day. Oswald, Bishop of Worcester, was supervising the building of a cathedral in the city only to find the project stalled when the large corner stone needed to hold up the church remained steadfast and could not be moved from its resting place. Eventually one of the labourers noticed a grinning imp atop the large stone. The workers called on St Oswald and the bishop scaled the stone and had a quiet word with the imp who hopped off and disappeared. Once the mischievous goblin had vanished, the stone became moveable and the cathedral was soon completed.
On this day a ghostly woman in white opens one of the doors to Hathersage rectory, although to what purpose is not particularly clear. Hathersage, in Derbyshire, is also the final resting place of Little John, whose 14 foot grave is in the churchyard. John reputedly died of grief after his friend and leader, Robin Hood, passed away in Kirklees near Leeds.