Many of the tales of
Anglo-Saxon England relate to Saint Boniface,
after whom St. Boniface Down, the highest hill on
the Island, is named. Saint
Boniface
Saint Boniface was
born 'Wynfryth' between 675 - 680 AD, probably in
Devon. At the age of 13 he joined the Benedictine
monastery at Nutscelle, between Southampton and
Winchester, less than 15 miles from the Isle of
Wight. Whilst he was there it is believed he went
on several missionary expeditions to the Island
as practice for his later expedition to Friesland
in Germany, where he planned to preach to the Old
Saxons
Around 710, he
became a priest, and in 716 he left for
Friesland. On the 15th May 719, he was
consecrated Bishop by Pope Gregory II. He was
then given the name Boniface, meaning 'Doer of
Good', and became Apostle to Germany, where he is
credited with creating the Christian Church, and
indirectly inventing the Christmas tree.
In 754, he
resigned his post as Archbishop of Mainz, Germany
in order to return on his mission to the
Frisians. He was martyred by pagan Frisians in
Dokkrum, what is now Holland, in 755.
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