Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
RYDE SOCIAL HERITAGE GROUP
Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
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St Boniface

ST. BONIFACE ICON
ST. BONIFACE ICON

The Southern of the Twin Chapels within Ryde Cemetery is home to the St Boniface Mission.

St Boniface was born Winfrid or Wynfrith at Crediton in the kingdom of Wessex (now in Devon) and was of a respected and prosperous family. It is believed that he went against his father’s wishes when he decided to become a priest. He received training in Benedictine monasteries near Exeter and at Nursling (between Southampton and Winchester). He became a missionary and brought Christianity to the Frankish Empire (mostly in modern day Germany). He was killed during one of his missions in 754 and his tomb is in the crypt of Fulda Cathedral (modern day Netherlands).

St Boniface has a shrine at the Catholic church in Crediton and as well as being venerated in Ryde’s Chapel of St Boniface Mission, there are other UK churches dedicated to him: Bunbury in Cheshire; Adler Street, London; Papa-Westray, Orkney; Chandler’s Ford and Southampton; and Bonchurch, Isle of Wight.

Many legends associate St Boniface with conversion of the pagan inhabitants of the Isle of Wight to Christianity. He is reputed to have preached to the fishermen at Bonchurch from Pulpit Rock and nearby St Boniface Down with its holy well is also named after him.

St Boniface is the patron saint of Germany and his feast day is June 5th.
Source: Wikipedia & BBC websites
Picture: St Boniface Icon by the Sisters of the Convent of St Elizabeth, Etna, California