Almighty God, whose only-begotten Son hath led captivity captive and given gifts to thy people: Multiply among us faithful pastors, who, like thy holy bishop Wulfstan, will give courage to those who are oppressed and held in bondage; and bring us all, we pray, into the true freedom of thy kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Today is the feast of St Wulfstan of Worcester (d.1095), English survivor of the Norman Conquest: https://t.co/gjmo0OG1Da pic.twitter.com/bdBUrBYsBb
— Eleanor Parker (@ClerkofOxford) January 19, 2017
Kudos to the Clerk of Oxford, who as always, provides much insight into English history (or legend).
My father, who like myself, was named for Bishop Wulstan (although we chose to drop the Saxon “f”) loved to tell the Arthurian story about how a Saxon was able to retain his position despite obvious pressure from the Normans to replace him!
I note, in passing that the Edgar Tower in Worcester is in need of new renovation. A century ago, when a similar renovation occurred, my father, as a young boy, had the honor of unveiling his namesake’s effigy (which shares pride of place with Worcester’s other great Saxon bishop, Oswald).