Some Christians spent their whole lives praying and doing good things. They might be missionaries, hermits, monks or nuns or promoters of the Church (British or Saxon). Some of them were later thought to be special people and were called saints. When saints died, people thought that touching their grave, their dead body or their possessions would cure them of all sorts of diseases and afflictions. Some Christians still believe this. The saints' bones and belongings they once owned were called 'relics'. They were kept in elaborate caskets or monuments called 'shrines'. Hand-held bells were popular relics of British Saints. In Scotland, they were often crosiers (staffs of office).  Individual bones were often swapped with other churches. Saxon Kings and Bishops collected relics as a hobby. They usually kept them in a church crypt. Churches with shrines were visited by lots of people hoping for cures. They are called 'pilgrims'. The visit is called a 'pilgrimage'. Pilgrims gave money to the monks or bishops who looked after shrines. They became very rich. Relics and Pilgrimages became even more popular in medieval times. Activity Sheet available.