Skip to Main Content

St. Edmund's Severed Arm.

St. Edmund's Severed Arm

Field review by the editors.

Mystic, Connecticut

Edmund Rich was the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1235, but he wasn't particularly loved by his English king. So he retired to France, died, and was made a Saint in 1246. His body was put on display -- and then someone hacked off his arm.

The Society of the Fathers and Brothers of St. Edmund took the arm with them when they emigrated to England in 1903, then to America in 1954, then to Connecticut in 2002. It's now on display in the tiny outdoor Chapel of Our Lady of the Assumption, part of a peaceful retreat on tiny Enders Island, just off the mainland, connected to it by a short bridge. People come here for picnics, not realizing they're only a few feet away from a withered, bony, 800-year-old human limb, its skin black with age, jutting out of a red clerical sleeve. Visitors are welcome to look but not to touch; the arm rests on a golden pillow inside a glass tube.

St. Edmund's Severed Arm

Address:
99 Yacht Club Rd, Mystic, CT
Directions:
From Mystic, drive east about a half-mile on US Hwy 1. Turn right (south) onto Masons Island Rd. Cross the bridge onto Masons Island, bear left onto Chippechaug Trail, then turn left onto E. Forest Rd and then immediately onto Yacht Club Rd. At the gatehouse, tell the guard you're going to Ender's Island to visit the chapel. Cross the bridge onto Ender's Island, park in the lot on the left, and walk to the outdoor chapel (It's a tiny island).
Hours:
Tell guard you're going to Ender's Island. Local health policies may affect hours and access.
RA Rates:
Major Fun
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Wrong Site of Amelia Earhart's Secret WeddingWrong Site of Amelia Earhart's Secret Wedding, Noank, CT - 1 mi.
Fish Made of Dining UtensilsFish Made of Dining Utensils, Mystic, CT - 2 mi.
Mystic Pizza - As Seen in MovieMystic Pizza - As Seen in Movie, Mystic, CT - 2 mi.
In the region:
House of Edgar Allan Poe's Girlfriend, Providence, RI - 45 mi.

More Quirky Attractions in Connecticut

Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in Connecticut.

Explore Thousands of Unique Roadside Landmarks!

Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Start here.
Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Map and Plan Your Own Roadside Adventure ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Connecticut Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

Easter Island Moai in America (Mar 25-31, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings