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The story of Ely Cathedral begins in Saxon Times with the life of its founder, St. Etheldreda. Etheldreda, a Saxon princess, was born in AD630 at Exning near Newmarket. Etheldreda knew that God had called her to the religious life. For political reasons she was forced to marry twice, but keeping her vocation in mind, she maintained her virginity which was highly prized in early Christian times. Her first husband gave her the Island of Ely. St. EtheldredaEventually her second husband released Etheldreda from her marriage vows. She fled to the Isle of Ely where, in 673, she founded a double monastery for monks and nuns on the site of the present Cathedral and was installed as the first Abbess. Etheldreda died on 23 June 679 of a throat tumour and was buried in the grounds of her monastery. On 17 October 695 her tomb was opened and her body was moved into the Saxon church. The historian Bede tells us that her body was found to be well preserved with the tumour healed. Etheldreda's monastery flourished for 200 years until it was destroyed by the Danes. It was refounded as a Benedictine community in 970. For centuries, Etheldreda's shrine was the focus for vast numbers of medieval pilgrims. The Shrine was also destroyed at the Reformation but a slate in the Cathedral marks the spot where it stood, and the 23 June and 17 October are still kept as major festivals in the Cathedral.
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