Frithuswith

Saint

Frithuswith
Saint; Frithuswith
	Depiction of Margaret the Virgin and Frideswide in Christ Church, Oxford, 14th-century.
Born	c. 650; upper Thames region
Died	19 October 727; Binsey, Oxford
Venerated in	Anglicanism; Eastern Orthodox Church; Roman Catholic Church
Major shrine	Christ Church, Oxford
Feast	19 October; 12 February (translation); 15 May (invention)
Attributes	pastoral staff; a fountain; the ox
Patronage	Oxford, England; University of Oxford

Frithuswith, commonly Frideswide (Old English: Friðuswīþ; c. 650 – 19 October 727), was an English princess and abbess.^[1] She is credited as the foundress of a monastery later incorporated into Christ Church, Oxford.^[2] She was the daughter of a sub-king of a Mercia named Dida of Eynsham whose lands occupied western Oxfordshire and the upper reaches of the River Thames.^[3]

Life

The earliest narrative of the saint is the Life of Saint Frideswide the Virgin (Latin: Vita sanctae Fritheswithae uirginis) preserved in a manuscript from the early twelfth century, copied in the hand of John of Worcester. A longer adaptation of this work is attributed to Robert of Cricklade, head of the Priory of St Frideswide, Oxford.^[3]^[4]

The story recounts that Frideswide was born to King Didan and his wife Safrida. She founds a monastery with her father's assistance while still young. Her parents die soon after. Algar, king of Leicester (Æthelbald of Mercia) seeks to marry her in spite of her vow of celibacy. When she refuses him, Algar attempts to abduct her, and Frideswide flees into the wilderness. On fleeing, she finds a ship sent by God which takes her to Bampton, Oxfordshire. Algar searches for her in Oxford, but the people refuse to tell him where she is, and he is struck blind.

Frideswide later seeks greater solitude and migrates to Binsey, Oxfordshire. To avoid having to fetch water from the distant River Thames, she prays to God and a well springs up. The well water has healing properties and many people come to seek it out. A nineteenth-century reconstruction of this well can be found at the Church of Saint Margaret in Binsey. She later returns to Oxford and remains abbess until her death.

Two Middle English adaptations of the Life of Frideswide are included in the South English legendaries.^[5] These include several minor variants on the narrative.^[6]

The priory

St Frideswide's Priory, a medieval Augustinian house (some of the buildings of which were incorporated into Christ Church, Oxford following the dissolution of the monasteries) is claimed to be the site of her abbey and relics. From early times the abbey appears to have been an important landowner in the area; however, it was destroyed in 1002 during the events of the St. Brice's Day massacre.^[2] A shrine was kept at the abbey in Frithuswith's honour; later a monastery was built there for Augustinian canons.^[7]

In 1180, the Archbishop of Canterbury Richard of Dover translated Frithuswith's remains to a new shrine in the monastery church, an event that was attended by King Henry II of England. The later history of the monastery was chequered, but it remained sufficiently prominent that Catherine of Aragon visited the shrine during her final pregnancy.^[8]

The priory seal, designed in the late 1180s, depicts Frideswide with a lily and a set of wax tablets.^[9]

Henry Chichele, the archbishop of Canterbury, officially declared Frideswide the patron saint of Oxford and the University of Oxford in 1440. Her feast day is 19 October, the traditional day of her death; the date of her translation is commemorated on 12 February; and the invention (discovery) of her relics on 15 May.^[3]

The shrine was repeatedly vandalized during the Dissolution of the Monasteries and beyond. In 1546 the monastery church became (and still remains) the cathedral church for the diocese of Oxford. Her shrine was reinstated by Queen Mary in 1558, but was later desecrated by James Calfhill, a Calvinist canon of the church, who was intent on suppressing her cult. As a result, Frithuswith's remains were mixed with those of Catherine Dammartin, wife of Peter Martyr Vermigli, and they remain so to this day.^[10]

In modern tradition

Frideswide remains the patron saint of Oxford and its university, and there is a revived tradition of pilgrimages to Christ Church.^[11] In later art, she is depicted holding the pastoral staff of an abbess with a fountain springing up near her and an ox at her feet. She appears in medieval stained glass, and in Pre-Raphaelite stained glass by Edward Burne-Jones in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, in the chapel where her shrine is also located.

References

^ Blair, John. "Frithuswith [St Frithuswith, Frideswide] (d. 727)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/10183. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ ^a ^b Blair, John (1988). "St Frideswide's monastery: problems and possibilities" (PDF). Oxoniensia. 53: 221–258.
^ ^a ^b ^c Blair, John (1987). "Saint Frideswide reconsidered" (PDF). Oxoniensia. 52: 71–127.
^ White, Carolinne, ed. (1 February 2024). "Two Twelfth-Century Lives of St Frideswide". The Cambridge Anthology of British Medieval Latin. Cambridge University Press. pp. 142–149. doi:10.1017/9781316890738.015. ISBN 978-1-316-89073-8.
^ Reames, Sherry (2003). Middle English legends of women saints. Kalamazoo, Mich.: Medieval Institute Publications. doi:10.2307/j.ctv13vdhm0. ISBN 978-1-58044-046-2. JSTOR j.ctv13vdhm0.
^ Thompson, Anne B. (1994). "Shaping a saint's life: Frideswide of Oxford". Medium Ævum. 63 (1): 34–52. doi:10.2307/43629614. JSTOR 43629614.
^ Mayr-Harting, Henry (1985). "Functions of a twelfth-century shrine: the miracles of St Frideswide". In Mayr-Harting, Henry; Moore, R. I. (eds.). Studies in medieval history presented to R. H. C. Davis. London: Hambledon Press. pp. 193–206. doi:10.5040/9781472599131.ch-014. ISBN 978-0-907628-68-2.
^ Highfield, J. R. L. (1988). "Catherine of Aragon's visit to the shrine of St. Frideswide" (PDF). Oxoniensia. 53: 274–275. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
^ Heslop, T.A. (1988). "The late 12th-century seal of St. Frideswide's priory" (PDF). Oxoniensia. 53: 271–274.
^ Kesselring, K. J. (20 July 2021). "The Case of Catherine Dammartin: Friends, Fellows, and the Survival of Celibacy in England's Protestant Universities". Renaissance and Reformation. 44 (1): 87–108. doi:10.33137/rr.v44i1.37043. S2CID 238798382.
^ Garner, Lori Ann (2022). "'If tradition can be trusted': Pilgrimage, place, and the legend(s) of Saint Frideswide". Modern Language Review. 117 (4): 581–607. doi:10.1353/mlr.2022.0115. ISSN 2222-4319. S2CID 252669922.

External links

Frithuswith 1 at Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England

[ODNB-1] Blair, John. "Frithuswith [St Frithuswith, Frideswide] (d. 727)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/10183. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[Blair1988-2] Blair, John (1988). "St Frideswide's monastery: problems and possibilities" (PDF). Oxoniensia. 53: 221–258.

[Blair1987-3] Blair, John (1987). "Saint Frideswide reconsidered" (PDF). Oxoniensia. 52: 71–127.

[4] White, Carolinne, ed. (1 February 2024). "Two Twelfth-Century Lives of St Frideswide". The Cambridge Anthology of British Medieval Latin. Cambridge University Press. pp. 142–149. doi:10.1017/9781316890738.015. ISBN 978-1-316-89073-8.

[5] Reames, Sherry (2003). Middle English legends of women saints. Kalamazoo, Mich.: Medieval Institute Publications. doi:10.2307/j.ctv13vdhm0. ISBN 978-1-58044-046-2. JSTOR j.ctv13vdhm0.

[6] Thompson, Anne B. (1994). "Shaping a saint's life: Frideswide of Oxford". Medium Ævum. 63 (1): 34–52. doi:10.2307/43629614. JSTOR 43629614.

[7] Mayr-Harting, Henry (1985). "Functions of a twelfth-century shrine: the miracles of St Frideswide". In Mayr-Harting, Henry; Moore, R. I. (eds.). Studies in medieval history presented to R. H. C. Davis. London: Hambledon Press. pp. 193–206. doi:10.5040/9781472599131.ch-014. ISBN 978-0-907628-68-2.

[8] Highfield, J. R. L. (1988). "Catherine of Aragon's visit to the shrine of St. Frideswide" (PDF). Oxoniensia. 53: 274–275. Retrieved 1 October 2018.

[9] Heslop, T.A. (1988). "The late 12th-century seal of St. Frideswide's priory" (PDF). Oxoniensia. 53: 271–274.

[10] Kesselring, K. J. (20 July 2021). "The Case of Catherine Dammartin: Friends, Fellows, and the Survival of Celibacy in England's Protestant Universities". Renaissance and Reformation. 44 (1): 87–108. doi:10.33137/rr.v44i1.37043. S2CID 238798382.

[11] Garner, Lori Ann (2022). "'If tradition can be trusted': Pilgrimage, place, and the legend(s) of Saint Frideswide". Modern Language Review. 117 (4): 581–607. doi:10.1353/mlr.2022.0115. ISSN 2222-4319. S2CID 252669922.

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v t e Saints of Anglo-Saxon England
British / Welsh	Aldate of Oxford Barloc of Norbury Brannoc of Braunton Branwalator of Milton Credan of Evesham Congar of Congresbury Dachuna of Bodmin Decuman of Watchet Elfin of Warrington Ivo of Ramsey Judoc of Winchester Melorius of Amesbury Nectan of Hartland Neot of Cornwall Patrick of Glastonbury Rumon of Tavistock Samson of Dol Sativola of Exeter
East Anglian	Æthelberht of East Anglia Æthelburh of Faremoutiers Æthelflæd of Ramsey Æthelthryth of Ely Æthelwine of Lindsey Athwulf of Thorney Blida of Martham Botwulf of Thorney Cissa of Crowland Cuthbald of Peterborough Eadmund of East Anglia Eadnoth of Ramsey Guthlac of Crowland Herefrith of Thorney Hiurmine of Blythburgh Huna of Thorney Pega of Peakirk Seaxburh of Ely Sigeberht of East Anglia Tancred of Thorney Torthred of Thorney Tova of Thorney Walstan of Bawburgh Wendreda Wihtburh of Ely Wulfric of Holme
East Saxon	Æthelburh of Barking Hildelith of Barking Osgyth Sæbbi of London
Frisian, Frankish and Old Saxon	Balthild of Romsey Bertha of Kent Felix of Dommoc Helier of Jersey Grimbald of St Bertin Monegunda of Watton Odwulf of Evesham Wulfram of Grantham
Irish and Scottish	Aidan of Lindisfarne Boisil of Melrose Echa of Crayke Ultan the Scribe Indract of Glastonbury Maildub of Malmesbury
Kentish	Æbbe of Thanet (Domne Eafe) Æthelberht of Kent Æthelburh of Kent Æthelred of Kent Albinus of Canterbury Berhtwald of Canterbury Deusdedit of Canterbury Edburga of Minster-in-Thanet Eanswith of Folkestone Eormengyth of Thanet Mildrith of Thanet Nothhelm of Canterbury Sigeburh of Thanet
Mercian	Ælfnoth of Stowe Ælfthryth of Crowland Æthelberht of Bedford Æthelmod of Leominster Æthelred of Mercia Æthelwynn of Sodbury Aldwyn of Coln Beonna of Breedon Beorhthelm of Stafford Coenwulf of Mercia Cotta of Breedon Credan of Evesham Cyneburh of Castor Cyneburh of Gloucester Cynehelm of Winchcombe Cyneswith of Peterborough Eadburh of Bicester Eadburh of Pershore Eadburh of Southwell Eadgyth of Aylesbury Eadweard of Maugersbury Ealdgyth of Stortford Earconwald of London Egwin of Evesham Freomund of Mercia Frithuric of Breedon Frithuswith of Oxford Frithuwold of Chertsey Hæmma of Leominster Merefin Mildburh of Wenlock Mildgyth Mildrith of Thanet Milred of Worcester Oda of Canterbury Oswald of Worcester Osburh of Coventry Regenhere of Northampton Rumbold of Buckingham Tibba of Ryhall Werburgh of Chester Wærstan Wigstan of Repton Wulfhild of Barking
Northumbrian	Acca of Hexham Æbbe "the Elder" of Coldingham Æbbe "the Younger" of Coldingham Ælfflæd of Whitby Ælfwald of Northumbria Æthelburh of Hackness Æthelgyth of Coldingham Æthelsige of Ripon Æthelwold of Farne Æthelwold of Lindisfarne Alchhild of Middleham Alchmund of Hexham Alkmund of Derby Balthere of Tyningham Beda of Jarrow Bega of Copeland Benedict Biscop Bercthun of Beverley Billfrith of Lindisfarne Bosa of York Botwine of Ripon Ceadda of Lichfield Cedd of Lichfield Ceolfrith of Monkwearmouth Ceolwulf of Northumbria Cuthbert of Durham Dryhthelm of Melrose Eadberht of Lindisfarne Eadfrith of Leominster Eadfrith of Lindisfarne Eadwine of Northumbria Ealdberht of Ripon Eanmund Eardwulf of Northumbria Eata of Hexham Ecgberht of Ripon Eoda Eosterwine of Monkwearmouth Hilda of Whitby Hyglac Iwig of Wilton John of Beverley Osana of Howden Osthryth of Bardney Oswald of Northumbria Oswine of Northumbria Sicgred of Ripon Sigfrith of Monkwearmouth Tatberht of Ripon Wihtberht of Ripon Wilfrith of Hexham Wilfrith II Wilgils of Ripon
Roman	Augustine of Canterbury Firmin of North Crawley Birinus of Dorchester Blaise Florentius of Peterborough Hadrian of Canterbury Honorius of Canterbury James the Deacon Justus of Canterbury Laurence of Canterbury Mellitus of Canterbury Paulinus of York Peter of Canterbury Theodore of Canterbury
South Saxon	Cuthflæd of Lyminster Cuthmann of Steyning Lewina of Bishopstone
West Saxon	Ælfgar of Selwood Ælfgifu of Exeter Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury Ælfheah of Canterbury Ælfheah of Winchester Æthelflæd of Romsey Æthelgar of Canterbury Æthelnoth of Canterbury Æthelwine of Athelney Æthelwold of Winchester Aldhelm of Sherborne Benignus of Glastonbury Beocca of Chertsey Beorhthelm of Shaftesbury Beornstan of Winchester Beornwald of Bampton Centwine of Wessex Cuthburh of Wimborn Cwenburh of Wimborne Dunstan of Canterbury Eadburh of Winchester Eadgar of England Eadgyth of Polesworth Eadgyth of Wilton Eadweard the Confessor Eadweard the Martyr Eadwold of Cerne Earmund of Stoke Fleming Edor of Chertsey Evorhilda Frithestan of Winchester Hædde of Winchester Humbert of Stokenham Hwita of Whitchurch Canonicorum Mærwynn of Romsey Margaret of Dunfermline Swithhun of Winchester Wulfsige of Sherborne Wulfthryth of Wilton
Unclear origin	Arilda of Oldbury Juthwara of Sherbourne Rumbold of Mechlin Urith of Chittlehampton

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Life

The priory

In modern tradition

See also

References

External links