Frideswide

Saint Frideswide

Saint Frideswide, known in Old English as Fryðesƿeoð or Friðesƿyð and in Latin as Frideswide, was an English princess and abbess of the 8th century. She is traditionally recognized as the foundress of a monastery in Oxford, the site of which was later incorporated into Christ Church Cathedral. Her life and legacy are deeply intertwined with the city of Oxford, for which she is the patron saint, as well as its renowned university.

Life and Legend

Born to King Didan and his wife Safrida, Frideswide was the daughter of a sub-king of Mercia. Early accounts, such as the Vita sanctae Fritheswithae uirginis, describe her founding a monastery with her father's support while still young. Following the deaths of her parents, she is said to have resisted an attempt by Algar, king of Leicester, to marry her, despite her vow of celibacy. According to legend, when she refused him, Algar attempted to abduct her, prompting Frideswide to flee into the wilderness. A divine intervention is said to have provided her with a ship that carried her to Bampton, Oxfordshire. Algar's subsequent search for her in Oxford reportedly led to him being struck blind.

Seeking further solitude, Frideswide later relocated to Binsey, Oxfordshire. Here, a legendary well reputedly sprang forth at her prayer, providing water and possessing healing properties. This well, a nineteenth-century reconstruction of which can be seen at the Church of Saint Margaret in Binsey, became a significant site of devotion. She eventually returned to Oxford and continued as abbess until her death.

The Priory and Veneration

St Frideswide's Priory, a medieval Augustinian house, is believed to occupy the site of her original abbey. The priory's buildings were later incorporated into Christ Church, Oxford. The abbey was destroyed in 1002 during the St. Brice's Day massacre, but a shrine dedicated to Frideswide was maintained. In 1180, her remains were translated to a new shrine in the monastery church, an event attended by King Henry II of England.

In 1440, Archbishop Henry Chichele officially proclaimed Frideswide the patron saint of Oxford and the University of Oxford. Her feast day is observed on October 19, the traditional date of her death. The priory seal, dating from the late 1180s, depicts Frideswide holding a lily and a set of wax tablets, symbolic attributes associated with her.

Later History and Modern Tradition

The shrine of St Frideswide faced significant challenges during the Dissolution of the Monasteries and subsequent periods. In 1546, the monastery church was established as the cathedral church for the diocese of Oxford. While Queen Mary reinstated her shrine in 1558, it was later desecrated, and her remains were mixed with those of Catherine Dammartin. Despite these historical upheavals, Frideswide continues to be revered as the patron saint of Oxford and its university. Modern tradition includes a revived interest in pilgrimages to Christ Church, and she is depicted in various artistic representations, including medieval and Pre-Raphaelite stained glass, often accompanied by symbols such as a fountain and an ox.