Carolyn wrote>
> Today, 14 February, is the feast of ...
>
> * Valentine, martyr(s) (c. 269)
> - although his feast is extremely popular in England and
> elsewhere, in England (at least) there are no churches
> dedicated to him
By coincidence, only a few days ago I found my first documentary evidence of
devotion to Valentine in the ancient Lincoln diocese in England: an endearing
bequest by a John Kyppinge of Wendover in Buckinghamshire of money for the
maintenance of 'my saint Nicholas' and 'my saint Valentine', presumably images
in his parish church.
I'm coming close to completing my survey of the diocese (hundreds of parishes),
and found no veneration of Valentine in my earlier survey of another large
English diocese, that of Worcester. But there must be other cases elsewhere. In
Oundle, Northamptonshire, there was a fair on V's Day, but not until c. 1560.
Notice of examples from the Continent gratefully received! (Off-list if
appropriate)
Graham Jones
Leicester
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