St Boniface RC Church and shrine, Holy Cross Church, Crediton

A 15-mile pilgrimage to Exeter Cathedral (opposite) starts from Crediton, home of St Boniface, also a stopping point on the Mary and Michael Pilgrims Way

Highlights

• Birthplace of St Boniface
• National Shrine in RC church
• Sculptures of saint in park and in parish church

Crediton produced one of the world’s most determined and successful missionaries. St Boniface took on the fearsome task of converting Germany’s pagan tribes to Christianity in the 8th century. His life story begins in Crediton, where the saint is remembered at several sites across town. He was born here around 672, serving locally as a priest before setting off on his brave mission to the Continent. It ultimately cost him his life, but not before he succeeded in spreading the message across vast areas of central Europe. He is Germany’s patron saint.

There are several places to see in Crediton, most of them open to the casual visitor. The National Shrine of St Boniface is, however, usually closed, sitting in the town’s Roman Catholic Church. Committed pilgrims can contact the church in advance to plan their visit to the shrine. It contains two relics of the saint and a piece of his tomb, brought to Crediton from Fulda in Germany, where he is buried in the cathedral crypt.

For those passing through, Crediton’s stunning parish church is easily accessible during the day. A modern wooden sculpture of the saint stands at the far end of the south nave aisle, near the base of the tower, entitled ‘Wynfrith – St Boniface To Be’. The saint was originally called Wynfrith, his later name meaning ‘benefactor’, or man of good deeds. The church became an important centre in Saxon times. St Boniface perhaps founded the first monastic church on this site, though nothing remains from this period. It was declared a cathedral in 909 and remained the seat of Devon’s bishop until 1050 when the see moved to Exeter 7 miles away. The early cathedral was wooden, but the current church building is Norman and later. Scenes from St Boniface’s life are depicted in the east window.

The town never attracted many pilgrims despite its link to St Boniface, perhaps because he spent most of his life abroad. But in the late 14th century, the bishop of Exeter started to promote the connection and the town began celebrating its famous son. In 2019, the county council declared him the patron saint of Devon, a move supported by the Anglican and Catholic churches. The town is now on the King Arthur Way. He is still remembered here today. A statue of St Boniface has been erected in a town centre park two minutes’ walk from the church. It was installed in the 1960s, depicting a relaxed-looking figure gazing across the grassy lawns and a bowling green, Bible in hand. There is even a holy well dedicated to St Boniface, but it is currently locked away in a little stone chamber near the statue, 40m along the path towards the bowling club.

The traditional site of the saint’s birth is recorded by a blue plaque on the east side of town, a five-minute walk from the main holy sites. It is on the corner of a street junction. There are no old buildings here connected to the saint, just the sign. St Boniface’s adventures in Germany are epic in their scale and ambition. He first went to Frisia, now the Netherlands, in 716 but lasted only a year before being chased from the land. He then moved to Germany and famously cut down a huge oak tree sacred to the god Thor. The local people fully expected the missionary to be struck dead by Thor’s wrath. Instead, he ended up with a useful pile of timber and set about building a wooden church dedicated to St Peter. It was a good way of getting noticed.

After a long life serving as bishop and eventually archbishop of all of Germany, at the age of about 80 St Boniface decided to return to Frisia to complete his aborted first mission. On 5 June 754, a hostile band of pagans attacked the saint and his companions. St Boniface’s only defence was a holy book, held aloft as he was slain. His symbol is sometimes shown as a book impaled on a sword.

Directions

RC church and National Shrine of St Boniface, Park Road, Crediton EX17 3ES

www.catholicchurchcrediton.org

W3W: missions.arose.coveted

GPS: 50.7874N 3.6505W

Church of the Holy Cross, Church Lane, Crediton EX17 2AH

www.creditonparishchurch.org.uk

W3W: fuel.poet.fewer

GPS: 50.7896N 3.6525W church

W3W: vies.album.envoy

GPS: 50.7902N 3.6551W statue

Crediton railway station 500m

The Roman Catholic Church and National Shrine are on the south side of town. The church celebrates Mass on Thursdays at 11:30amand Sundays at 9:30 am. To arrange a visit in advance write to the church at the address above or call 01392 271191.

A sign inside the church door in German and English gave a number to call if you do turn up and want to attempt access on an ad hoc basis. Holy Cross parish church is 200m from the Catholic shrine, on the main A377 road through town.

The park is a further 180m along this road into town, behind the war memorial and public toilets. The statue and well are on the left as you walk towards the bowling green. St Boniface’s birthplace is at the corner of a road called Tolleys and Downeshead Lane.

From the parish church walk east along the main road (East Street), continue straight ahead over the busy A3072 and the blue plaque is 25m away in front of you, on the street corner (GPS: 50.7888N3.6479W).