The earliest account of Frideswide’s life comes from a 12th century manuscript. According to the story, Frideswide was the daughter of Didan, King of that part of the Ango Saxon kingdom of Mercia which surrounded Oxford.
Frideswide was the only child of Didan and his wife Safrida. When Safrida died, Frideswide asked her father to build a monastery, which he did, and the still very young Frideswide became its abbess.
As an abbess, Frideswide had, of course, taken a vow of celibacy, but, unfortunately, this did not stop Algar, King of Mercia, from trying to persuade her to marry him. When Frideswide refused his advances, Algar tried to abduct the young abbess.
Luckily, Algar’s attempts failed and, under cover of darkness, Frideswide was able to escape Oxford by rowing a small boat up the Thames until she came to the village of Bampton, nearly twenty miles to the west. Here, Frideswide was able to hide in a pigsty belonging to a local swine herd.
The persistent Algar refused to be deterred, and eventually discovered Frideswide’s secret location. But, just as he was about to ride out in hot pursuit, a miracle occurred. Algar was struck blind!
Frideswide, however, was compassionate and using the waters of a holy well which she had caused to bubble up from the earth, she was able to restore his site.
Algar now abandoned his pursuit of Frideswide and she returned safely to Oxford where she was able to establish a priory.
Frideswide died on October 19th 727. Her grave became a place of pilgrimage and many miracles were attributed to her.
In 1440 Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury declared Frideswide the patron saint of Oxford. In 1546 the monastery church became (and still remains) the cathedral church for the Oxford Diocese.
Kintbury and Beyond 