Dunstan
| 'Saint Dunstan of Canterbury' | |
|---|---|
| Born | 909,Baltonsborough, Glastonbury, England |
| Died | 988, Canterbury, England |
| Major shrine | Destroyed |
| Feast | May 19 |
| Attributes | gold cup; pincers; man holding a pair of smith's tongs; with a dove hovering near him; with a troop of angels before him |
| Patronage | armourers; blacksmiths; blind people; Charlottetown, Canada; gold workers; goldsmiths; jewellers; lighthouse keepers; locksmiths; musicians; silver workers; silversmiths; swordsmiths |
Dunstan (909–May 19, 988) was an Archbishop of Canterbury (961–988) who was later canonized as a saint. He gained fame for the many stories told about his cunning in dealing with the Devil.
He began his career at Glastonbury, becoming abbot in 945. The abbey flourished under his administration, with a substantial extension of the irrigation system on the surrounding Somerset Levels. Following the accession of King Edwy of England, he became less influential and went overseas to Flanders. On his return, in 957, he imported Benedictine customs, becoming bishop of Worcester and London in 959, and in 961 became Archbishop of Canterbury, under King Edgar of England. Having crowned Edgar in 973, he performed the same service for his successor, Edward the Martyr, and later for Ethelred the Unready. The service is still used as the basis for contemporary British coronations. He died in 988 and was canonized in 1029.
He functions as the patron saint of goldsmiths, and himself worked as a blacksmith, painter, and jeweller. English literature contains many references to him, for example in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, and in this folk rhyme:
- St Dunstan, as the story goes,
- Once pull'd the devil by the nose
- With red-hot tongs, which made him roar,
- That he was heard three miles or more.
From this the tongs have become a symbol of St Dunstan and are featured in the arms of Tower Hamlets.
Another story relates how Dunstan nailed a horseshoe to the Devil's hoof when he was asked to reshod the Devil's horse. This caused the Devil great pain, and Dunstan only agreed to remove the shoe and release the Devil after he promised never to enter a place where a horseshoe is over the door. This is claimed as the origin of the lucky horseshoe.
The Church marks his feast day on May 19.
Churches dedicated to St Dunstan
- St Dunstan's, Mayfield
- St Dunstan's, Stepney
- St. Dunstan's, Auburn, AL
- St. Dunstan's Church of the Highlands Parish, Shoreline, Washington
- St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, Madison
| Preceded by: Coenweld |
Bishop of Worcester | Followed by: St. Oswald |
| Preceded by: Byrrthelm |
Bishop of London | Followed by: Aelstan |
| Preceded by: Aelfsige |
Archbishop of Canterbury | Followed by: Æthelgar |
Popular culture
- In the Dark Horse Comics series Hellboy by Mike Mignola, the legend of St. Dunstan is referenced in the story Box Full of Evil (a two-issue tale included in the graphic novel The Right Hand of Doom). The story is embellished upon so that not only did St. Dunstan pinch the devil's nose with tongs, he also hammered the devil's head on an anvil before sealing him away in a box. A thousand years later, in the present day, the box and its key are recovered by the scam artist Igor Bromhead, who opens it. In doing so he unleashes its captive devil Ualac, a minor demon of Hell who covets Hellboy's Crown of the Apocalypse.
- In Robertson Davies' novel Fifth Business, at the prompting of his lover, the protagonist changes his name from "Dunstable" to "Dunstan" Ramsay based on the saint's life and personality. Ramsay is meant to personify Saint Dunstan in the novel, especially considering the saint's meeting with the Devil.
- Manly Wade Wellman often made reference to St. Dunstan in his stories. His occult detective character Judge Pursuivant carried a sword cane with a silver blade forged by the saint. A later character, John Thunstone had even closer connections to the character. The name "Thunstone" was meant to evoke "Dunstan."
