Waltham Abbey Church

In the time of the Danish King Canute, around the date of 1030, his standard bearer, Tovi, owned land in the area of Montacute (locally called Lutegaresberi) near Glastonbury which was a very prestigious monastery. A blacksmith on Tovi's land had a dream - a vision over several nights resulting in fingerprints left upon the arm of the smith by an Angel who showed a hill top where great treasure was buried. So, with prayer and fasting, an investigation was organised by the village priest. A delegation of dignitaries, in procession, singing litanies, dug to a depth of forty cubits where the dream suggested, and there a large black stone crucifix carved skilfully onto black flint was discovered. With it was a smaller one under the right arm, and a bell under the left arm. There was also a book of the gospels. The Lord of the Manor, Tovi was called and they were taken to the graveyard. The small cross was placed in the Montecute church. 

The other precious objects were placed on a wagon with twelve red oxen and twelve white ones. Holy sites were named by Tovi to the animals, such as Canterbury, Winchester, York, Glastonbury, Westminster, etc., but the oxen failed to make any movement forward. Only when Tovi called the name of Waltham was called did the cart move. Waltham was a tiny church and hunting lodge, on the Lea river owned by Tovi. The animals immediately started walking and continued until they arrived at Waltham when they abruptly halted. Along the route many were healed of illness. The crucifix was taken from the cart and erected at the tiny church which was named after the holy cross. 

Tovi donated his sword to the church. While the workmen were erecting the cross, one accidentally pierced the marble figure and blood was said to have flowed out. Tovi's wife, Glitha donated rich treasures; a jewelled pendant and a gold crown studded with jewels that was placed around the thigh of the image. 66 people stayed at the church to devote their lives to the device of the miraculous crucifix. The church grew in fame, wealth and in size (to include Kelvedon, Hitchin, Lambeth and Loughton), and pilgrims came and miracles were common. 

At Tovi's wedding, King Harthacnut had a sudden convulsion and died, and upon Tovi's death, the area of Waltham, owned by Athelstan, then Asgar, and then given to Geoffrey de Mandeville. However, Earl Harold Godwinson had once owned the land and had prayed for relief from a paralysis and received a remarkable healing at there. While he was prostrated on the ground, the statue, previously looking upwards, bowed its head. In gratitude for his recovery, he built a far larger church on the site which was consecrated on Holy Cross Day, 1060 and was given the name of the Holy Cross and additionally the name of St Lawrence. It is believed to show some of the most distinguished architecture in the UK with a bell tower of five great bells. A college was also founded at the site. Prior to his death at the Battle of Hastings, Harold prayed at this church and when he died, his body was carried to be buried under the altar, now in the grounds. Eventually, due to pilgrimages arriving at the church, it grew in size but during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, much of the church was destroyed and the valuables were looted.

Founded in 1030 and built by Harold before the Battle of Hastings, it is named after the Holy. Ross and St Lawrence. It has a Norman nave, aisles a 14th century south chapel, and a 16th century west tower. It has an early font and 17th century pulpit. The zodiac nave ceiling was painted by Sir E J Poynter. The church  contains some of the finest 19th-century stained glass in the Jesse East window. Dated 1861, it was designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones who, with William Morris, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and others, formed the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood of artists and poets. The window has three lancets with Jesse himself represented at the base of the central light. A vine grows from his body, each spray enclosing a figure or incident from the Bible. At the top is the crucifixion, with the Nativity and Shepherds just below.

A memorial procession and re-enactment takes place each year. Volunteers and attenders are always needed to make the re-enactment a success. This event is special celebration of miracles, healing, revival and community cohesion and representatives from the Abbey church, the Town Council, Waltham Abbey Historical Society and King Harold’s Day, present this event. 'Holy Cross' Day commemorates the finding of the wood by St Helena upon which Christ is said to have been crucified. She was the mother of the Emperor Constantine. There will be a service at the Church to which everyone is invited. The bell-ringers are expected to ring a Quarter Peal in the evening with a walk to remember Tovi the Proud and his 66 followers, who brought the Holy Cross to Waltham. Bells will also ring in Montecute on this day in celebration. A walk takes place from the Lee Valley White Water Centre to the Abbey, where "pilgrims" are received as they would have been in medieval times, and a Cross will be installed in the Abbey by candlelight. Please note, there is no parking permitted at the White Water Centre and gates are locked at nightfall in the Abbey Gardens Car Park. Visit for more information: https://holycrossdaywalthamabbey.wordpress.com/