Centuries-old tombs discovered underneath medieval London church

While renovating St. Mary's Church Lambeth on the south bank of the river Thames in London, workers discovered a crypt full of coffins that nobody knew was there. Among the 30 coffins, there are signs that a former head of the Church of England was buried there. Mark Phillips has more on this valuable archaeological discovery.

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[mscott]

Reminds me of the words on a gravestone outside a church. Here I lie by the church door, here I lie because I'm poor, the further in the more you pay, but here lies I, as snug as they.

And probably not dug up!

[TheLynerdSkynerd]

These coffins were most likely lined with lead, as was typical of the time, and stacked on top of each other in orderly rows. Over time, the exterior wooden shell of the coffins would break down, deteriorating due to the environment, and the weight of the lead-lined coffins on top would eventually collapse onto the ones beneath it. Lead is also very malleable, so it bends more easily under pressure. Also likely resulting in the eventual "toppling over" of the stacks, which most likely produced the state of disarray that was shown.

[sonnydean]

Even with all their high tech tools, Archeologists don't always find what their looking for. Then along comes a fellow wearing a hard hat - and the rest is history as they say....

[garymitchell]

It staggers me that those coffins seem to have been just chucked in there! I had the privilege of working at Lambeth Palace when Dr. Runcie was Archbishop and also met Terry Waite. A wonderful experience at an absolutely incredibly historic place.

[Venture]

Whichever way you look at it, this is a really amazing find.

[dobazajr]

There's nothing to creep about the discovery. They're dead and they were there for ages. Why need to disturb them in their resting place?

[BobbyRay]

Not really surprised. People of apportance have bend laid to rest under churches in England for Centuries?

[jonbarnhart]

WTH would an ancient building be demolished?

[teviottilehurst]

I live in England. Why haven't I've heard of this, until now?

[darkwaters]

How do you lose and forget the burial location of some of the most important heads of the official Church of the country?

[jchisholm]

What a mess! It looks like Hermes delivered those coffins.

[burymedeep-bedm]

Why were they all tossed in basement? Was this an old mauseleum? And to demolish such an old building.

[EnlightenedTurtle]

I wonder why the burial was so crude.. The timing of the 1600s and the significance of this Bishop in over seeing the first edition of the king james seems very important indeed.

[thatswhatshesaid.literally]

*Wow, forget about "laid to rest"... More like "tossed out to rest"!*

[HopeNazir]

I wonder how they came to be in such disarray.
Even with the decay off the coffins it seems like they were not laid out to begin with.

[wendyhaase]

What an amazing Church in an amazing find I don't understand why somebody would have even thought about tearing down a thousand-year-old church doesn't make sense but I have to agree with some of the other people with you know what happened to The Bishop's called crown and the coffins that were down there now it's nothing else somebody at least you have gone down there and he'll fix it up and put the coffins back where they should have been instead of but look like they were throwing around

[Rod-bpow]

The Remains of the former Archbishops should be cleaned properly, and so as the mitre, it should be placed properly on top of the coffin. For Holiness is to the man that seeketh the ways thereof of Holiness, as the book of life is preservation of all things. For He has risen, and he is LIGHT to ALL, be it the Archbishop, for the Bishop is emulation of Life, light and truth as a Member and Head of a Church. Planted by the waters by the word. KJV 1611. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word, for every word is pure, it is preserved. For ye are the salts of the earth, have salt and live. Adam cannot be confused, for the man came out a woman, the woman in transgression. The bishops office is restored, not a filthy lucre, not into strong drink or wine, as marriages are honorable.

[samanthaeast]

So what finally did happen to the coffins?

[stacythomas]

Now this horticulture museum has a few hundreds year old guardian angels. There are worse places to call your forever home lol.

[warningsigns]

Canterbury - Can't Bury (Max Spiers) RIP Super Soldier knew of the evil of this place