--- Sherry Reames <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Dear Maddy,
> There are apparently just 3 well-attested medieval church dedications
> to
> her in England. Besides the former Augustinian priory at Oxford,
> these
> were the parish church at Frilsham, Berks (about 20 miles from
> Oxford), and
> a small church or chapel at Binsey, just 2 miles from Oxford
The church at Binsey (which I know well, and where I have preached), is
actually dedicated to St Margaret, and has St Margaret's well in the
churchyard (Lewis Carroll's Treacle Well). The story goes that St
Frideswide was being pursued with lustful intent by one Ælfgar or
Ælgar, an Anglo-Saxon nobleman. She prayed for succour to St Margaret,
who sent a flash of lightning which blinded him. Seeing that this had
dampened his ardour, she prayed again to St Margaret, who sent a spring
bubbling up at her feet. Frideswide bathed his eyes in the water, his
sight was restored, and he went away a sadder and a wiser man. The
spring is now the Treacle Well (ME triacle, 'healing').
Oriens.
____________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk
or your free @yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|