Today's Church Times reports (p.17,
optimistically headed 'Real Life') as follows:
"St Frideswide is the patron saint of Oxford, and
the city, University and Cathedral all lay claim to her. But Frilsham, near
Yattendon, also has a claim. Legend connects her with Frilsham woods and the
well that bears her name, and Frilsham Church is dedicated to her.
"Not much is known about her
early life. A contemporary of Bede, she was a Mercian princess, and the first
abbess of the monastery that become [sic] the site of Christ Church Cathedral.
One story is that Aethelbald of Mercia attempted to seduce the attractive
virgin, but she escaped to Binsey Forest and then to Oxford.
"The preferred story in
Frilsham, says the Revd Tony Lynn, Team Vicar of Yattendon (with Frilsham in his
cure), is that is was Algar of Mercia who pursued her, and she fled to Frilsham.
But whether it was Aethelbald or Algar, the stories show her forgiving and
compassionate nature.
"Her pursuer was afflicted with
blindness, and was cured by her intercessory prayers. Thus - it was believed -
the waters of Frilsham Well became a cure for blindness, and the well provided
the only water for Frilsham village until modern times. Now, Frilsham Well is
again worthy of St Frideswide. After receiving a grant from the Lottery, its
surround has been rebuilt, it has been cleaned, and it is now covered with a
layer of perspex and a grille [lucky it].
"Traditionally, children process
nearly two miles to the well each year on St Frideswide's Day, 19th October,
carrying a cross and banners. This year, the children from Yattendon School,
with parents and parishioners, celebrated both the saint and the refurbishment
of her well."
A very nice but very small photo of children, well,
and rather dangerous-looking processional cross accompanies the above. The
restored well has pillarbox-red bricks round the edge and looks quite
alarming.
I hadn't heard of 'St Frideswide's well, Frilsham',
until a year or so ago and can't remember now how it came to my attention. John
Blair doesn't mention it in his Oxoniensia accounts of Frideswide; so
where has it come from, I wonder?
James