Born in East Anglia in the late 8th century, St Ethelbert travelled to Mercia to seek the hand of Aelfrytha, the daughter of King Offa. Offa subsequently arranged for him to be murdered in Marden, five miles from Hereford.

Many legends have grown up around him — that a spring rose at the site of his beheading; that the body was taken by ox-cart to what is now Hereford; that during that journey the head fell from the cart; and that it was found by a blind man who promptly regained his sight.

Ethelbert’s body was buried at Hereford Cathedral and became the centre of a pilgrim cult. Until the Dissolution his head was a focus of devotion at Westminster Abbey.

The shrine tells the story in 12 vibrant images. Its seven-sided wooden structure, which surrounds a pillar east of the high altar, was designed by the cathedral architect Robert Kilgour and made by the furniture maker and designer Stephen Florence.

The icons were painted in the Byzantine style by Peter Murphy, a noted iconographer (and stuckist) who uses traditional early medieval techniques and materials including gold leaf and egg tempera.

On two carved bands encircling it are the words “Jesus said: All who want to be followers of mine must renounce self. Day after day they must take up their cross and follow me.” (Luke ix, 23) — words which, the Dean, Michael Tavinor, has said, serve to “remind us. . . that Ethelbert’s story of suffering is one experienced by so many in the world today — and underline the gospel message of following Jesus in joy and in sorrow”.