CREDITON
FESTIVAL
2009
Tourism - Boniface 2004 - The Bonifatiusway
The Bonifatiusway - A Way To Europe
About 1250 years ago, Boniface set course for Europe.
This trail connects some of the most important steps in the life of St Boniface as he progressed from his birthplace Crediton in Devon to his eventual martyrdom in Friesland. It contains geographical, cultural, ecclesiastical information useful to both the pilgrim and the tourist.
CREDITON
Crediton is located in an area of beautiful, tranquil Devonshire countryside with rolling hills, winding river valleys and the famous fertile red soils. The area has a wealth of rural life, history, Churches, folklore and hidden villages just waiting to be discovered. Midway between the high moors of Exmoor and Dartmoor, the rugged Atlantic coast and the gentler south coast, you will find a very warm hospitable, welcome waiting for you in Devonshire's Heartland.
Boniface, then known as Winfrith, was born in Crediton in about 680AD. He was the son of a Saxon merchant's family and his supposed birthplace is in the area known as "Tolleys" near Mill Street.
The present Church of the Holy Cross is Crediton's most famous building having a long and fascinating history stretching back over many centuries from its origins as a Norman Collegiate Church. The adjacent Boniface Centre provides a warm welcome for visitors.
The Roman Catholic Church of St Boniface in Crediton contains two authenticated relics of the Saint which were given by the Bishop of Fulda. A stone from the tomb of St Boniface is incorporated into the Church and a bas-relief of Boniface is a fitting focus for pilgrim devotions.
St Boniface Well and Statue can be seen by visitors in Newcombes Meadow. The Portland Stone statue of the young Boniface was unveiled in 1960 by Princess Margaret.
EXETER
Exeter is today a small, intimate city still guarded by
Roman Walls and dominated by the 850 year old Gothic
Cathedral. Packed with fascinating historical features, it
represents an excellent centre for visitors.
At the age of 7 Winfrith started his studies in the monastic school in
Exeter. Whilst in Exeter, Winfrith excelled as a scholar and was taken
in to the care of the Abbot Wolfard who recognised his
talent and ability and looked for a great scholar who would carry
on his education.
NURSLING, NR SOUTHAMPTON
Winfrith continued his
scholarly life at the Benedictine Monastery at Nursling. When the
old Abbot died, Winfrith was offered the Abbot's position, but he still
felt the calling of missionary life. It was, therefore, that in
716AD Winfrith sailed from London with three companions for
his first mission to "convert the heathen tribes of Frisia".
WIMBORNE
It was from Wimborne Nunnery that Lioba, the
noted Benedictine nun, scholar and female cousin of St Boniface
trained, and developed her works. At the personal invitation of
Boniface, Lioba was persuaded to leave Wimborne and travel to
Germany to assist with his mission. She died in 780AD and was
buried with Boniface in Fulda.
FULDA
Fulda is a historic town full of tradition in the heart of Germany. It owes
its origins to a Benedictine convent founded by Sturmius in 744 AD. Boniface
succeeded in getting the convent granted the privilege of exemption by Pope Zachary
in 751, thus freeing it from the jurisdiction of local bishops. Exemption and
land donations, particularly after Boniface's death and burial in the convent
church are the roots of the political and ecclesiastical independence of the
later Fulda principality. With a number of privileges both from Pope and King
the abbot of Fulda became the spiritual leader and the secular head of his territory.
In 1220, the abbot was raised to the rank of Prince of the Roman Empire with
the title "Prince Abbot".
The successful and thrifty administration by the Prince Abbots in the second half of the 17th century laid the basis for a second flowering of town and country in the Baroque period of the 18th century. Extensive building in the Baroque style began with the erection of the new cathedral, followed by the new residence, the palace gardens, the palaces of the aristocracy in the vicinity of the palace, but also by a state university, a hospital and the main guardhouse.
Today Fulda is the economic, political and cultural centre of Eastern Hesse. Fulda has a number of remarkable museums and buildings of great interest to the student of art history. Moreover, with its numerous cultural activities and its large variety of pubs and restaurants it offers attractions for young and old. Its exceptional flair will please visitors demanding the highest standards.
Vriendschapscomite Dokkum-Crediton-Fulda
DOKKUM
Dokkum has existed since the beginning of the Christian era. In those days it
was no more than some huts and houses at the crossing of a waterway and a country
road. It is said that Dokkum was founded in 248 by Ubbo, the 4th Duke of the Frisians.
He built a castle to protect Dokkum against pirates. Today, 1750 years later,
the town is "protected" by its bulwarks, a ring of canals and embankments
which surround the old town centre.
Water plays an important role in Dokkum. In the early days the town was the starting point for a flourishing trade with distant foreign regions. An abundant supply of silt from sea was used to fertilise the land making it very productive. However this very abundance of silt eventually clogged the channel so sea vessels could not reach the town anymore.
The sea was also a threat to the Frisians. They built artificial hills, terps, as a refuge from the sea at high water. Most village churches were built on these artificial hills, so that the terps were safe havens in more than one way. Dokkum is built on two terps, a church terp and an inhabitants' terp. Different from the normal way of building terps, the Dokkum church terp was raised in one go so that a church, in memory of Boniface, could be built on the spot where he and 52 of his followers were murdered in 754 AD.
After the death of Boniface, a well of clear water rose, as if by a miracle, from the marshland which surrounded Dokkum. This well brought prosperity and became the focus of many pilgrimages. Even today water flows out this Boniface Well, situated just outside the town bulwarks near the Boniface Chapel and miraculous qualities are still attributed to the water.