sarum

Sarum is the Latin name historically used for Salisbury, a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England. The term appears in medieval documents and liturgical usage and is associated with the city’s ecclesiastical as well as architectural heritage. The see of the bishopric was originally at Old Sarum, a hilltop fortification nearby, but in the 11th century the bishopric and cathedral were relocated to the site of present-day Salisbury, giving rise to the enduring association with the name Sarum.

Sarum Rite refers to the medieval Latin liturgical use that originated at Salisbury Cathedral. Developed in the 11th and 12th centuries, and codified in the Osmundine or Sarum Missal, the Sarum Rite was widely adopted across England and parts of Wales and Ireland. It shaped the order of Mass, the calendar, processions, vestments, and various prayers, and its distinctive features persisted in English church practice for centuries. After the English Reformation, the Sarum Rite gradually declined and was supplanted by English-language rites, though its influence remains a focus of liturgical and historical study.

Salisbury Cathedral, the centerpiece of the city, exemplifies English Gothic architecture and is renowned for its height and design. The cathedral’s spire rises to about 404 feet, making it one of the tallest in Britain. Construction began in the early 13th century and continued into the 14th, with the famous 14th-century clock among its notable features. The nearby site of Old Sarum preserves earlier fortifications and provides archaeological insight into the city’s early history before the move to the present Salisbury.

Today, Sarum is primarily referenced in historical, religious, and architectural contexts. The term denotes both the historic identity of Salisbury and the medieval liturgical tradition associated with it, as well as the historical site of Old Sarum.