Religion: Wynfrith and Schulte

Many years ago (in 680), a man child was born in an old Saxon family in Devonshire, and the child was christened Wynfrith. He studied at Exeter and early be-:ame a monk famed for his schollarship, his preaching. And he rook the name of Boniface.

All fared well until he reached :he age of 36, and then the wanderlust came upon him, and he wished very dearly to convert the heathen in Frisia*. So he traveled there but was soon expelled by the King Radbod. Three years later the Pope (Gregory II) sent him to Germany converting, baptizing, success in Bavaria and Thuringia, but, hearing of King Radbod’s death, he rushed back to Frisia. Three years after he returned to Thuringia and Hesse. He converted so many heathen chieftains and common people that the Pope summoned him to Rome and made him a bishop. Again he returned to Germany converting, baptizing overturning idols, founding churches, monasteries. For 32 years he continued in these holy occupations, virtually making Germany over from a heathen to a Christian land. Then once more the idea of Frisia came into his mind, and he set out for Frisia once more, and within a few days he and his associates were massacred bythe heathen. So ended Wynfrith, known as Boniface.

A few years ago (in 1875), Cardinal Manning journeyed down into the East End of London and opened a new Church and it was known as the Church of St. Boniface. For 50 years the East Enders have been contributing their pennies and their farthings and now at last St. Boniface’s is free from debt and ready to be consecrated as the House of the Lord, It seemed only logical that since St. Boniface was the Apostle of Germany, a German prelate should be chosen for its consecration. But the question arose: What German, prelate or no prelate, would be welcomed in the East End to consecrate an English church?

The man was found. He was Cardinal Schulte, Prelate of Cologne, who during the War organized a large relief force to care forthe British and French prisoners in German prison camps. After the Armistice the French Government was at pains to thank him for his ministrations, and almost six years later he was chosen to consecrate on Oct. 4, 1925, the Church of St. Boniface in the East End of London.

*On the North Sea.