pilgrim badge

This is a medieval pilgrim badge depicting Richard Caister (d. 1420), vicar of St. Stephen’s Church in Norwich. Caister preached in English rather than Latin – the language of the Church - which was unusual at the time. His desire to preach in English may have been so the poor could hear the word of God in a language they could understand.

Caister’s grave in St. Stephen’s Church became a popular shrine in the fifteenth century and several healing miracles were reported. One was recorded by the author Margery Kempe (1373-1438) in ‘The Book of Margery Kempe’, considered to be the first autobiography written in English. She writes that she felt ‘such holy thoughts and such holy memories that she could not control her weeping’. Meanwhile, the sick friend she had been praying for was miraculously cured.

On the badge, Caister is depicted in a pulpit, which represents the importance of his preaching. God is shown above him and the holy spirit (in the form of a dove) is at his ear, suggesting the value of his religious teachings and his closeness to God. The decorated frame around Caister on this badge may represent flames or light, symbolising the miraculous experience Kempe described, and Caister’s religious powers.