Boniface was a monk, an apostle of Frisia and Germany, archbishop of Mainz, and
martyr. Born in Devon, possible Credition, of free, land-owning Anglo-Saxon
peasants.
He was educated in monasteries, first at Exeter, then at Nursling, Hants, under
Winbert.
At the age of thirty he became a monk and after acting as an emissary for the
King of Wessex, he initially chose to spread the gospel in Frisia. In 719 with
the backing of Pope Gregory II, he made a journey to Hesse and Thuringia where
he met with great success. After a second visit to Rome, he returned to Germany
and established new bishoprics and monasteries there.
He was consecrated a Bishop in 722 and Archbishop in 732.
In 741 he began a thoroughgoing reform of the Frankish Church; he presided over
several councils and corrected many abuses.
At the end of his life he decided to return to Frisia only to be murdered by a
band of pagans.
It has been said that no Englishman has had a deeper influence on the history
of Europe than Saint Boniface.
His feast day is the 5th June.
Written and contributed by Phillip Lloyd.
