![]() St Frideswide's Tomb in the Cathedral in Christ Church College |
St Frideswide's Church (AD700-1100) Early in the eighth century, a Mercian sub-king called Didan founded a monastery at Oxford, with his daughter, Frideswide, as the first abbess. When Didan died, King Algar of Leicester pursued Frideswide for marriage. She evaded him and fled to Bampton. When Algar arrived in Oxford he was struck blind and returned home. Frideswide worked many miracles at Bampton before eventually returning to Oxford where she died in 727. She was buried at the church in Oxford and miracles were later recorded at her grave. Thus she became a saint. It is thought that the Anglo-Saxon church was located in the same place as the later Augustinian priory, which is today occupied by Christ Church College and Oxford Cathedral. In fact, a shrine to St Frideswide can still be seen in the church. |