I am a retired teacher who wrote 7 photocopiable books for Teachers and one book for children Union Jack Colouring Book.
The 7books covered Geography, History (Medieval/ Tudor/ Stuart), Travel and Transport, Myself and Events (this included diaries), Race Against Time Stories (SATS based), Church Dates for Children plus Nature and Seasons (including Sport). These 7 books have been mainly broken into a number of segments.
Challenging the Physical Elements, my Geography book, is complete.
I am a retired teacher who wrote 7 photocopiable books for Teachers and one book for children Union Jack Colouring Book.
The 7books covered Geography, History (Medieval/ Tudor/ Stuart), Travel and Transport, Myself and Events (this included diaries), Race Against Time Stories (SATS based), Church Dates for Children plus Nature and Seasons (including Sport). These 7 books have been mainly broken into a number of segments.
Challenging the Physical Elements, my Geography book, is complete.
I have created 15 pages of multiple choice questions, with a few homophones, on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe which I hope will prove useful.
In June 2022 I began tutoring a 10 year old English 11+ work. I decided to introduce her to the Narnia stories for the comprehension work.
To encourage the child to read I took the famous The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and decided to create some multiple choice work. I have very much linked the work to the book so most of the answers are to be found on the page references I have given to most of the questions.
The child was set the homework of reading a chapter(s) and in the tutorial answering the questions - using the page reference as an aid if required.
I also wrote the material in TES for T’he Chronicles of Narnia - short crosswords with word search- which has been very well received.
Where it says see special sheet it is referring to that material.
Jacqueline Bryony Lucy ‘Jackie’ Pullinger is a British Christian charismatic missionary to Hong Kong. She is th founder of the St. Stephen’s Society. She has been ministering in Hong Kong since 1966, over 50 years.
She was born in Croydon , London, England in 1944.
She graduated form the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London having specialized in the oboe.
Aged 22 she wanted to be a missionary. She wrote to various missionary organizations but was not offered any support.
Richard Thompson, a minister in Shoreditch, suggested she buy a boat ticket and pray she would know when to get off!
In 1966 she went by boat to Hong Kong.
When she arrived she had just $10 ‘on hand’. The only reason the immigration officer allowed her in was because her mother’s godson was a police officer there.
She found work as a primary school teacher in the Kowloon Walled City. In the 1960s it was not policed and had become one of the world’s largest opium producing centers run by Chinese criminal Triad gangs.
Despite the danger she helped the gang members to follow Jesus which gave them a purpose and reason for living without having to us drugs.
Later she established a youth center to help the drug addicts and street sleepers inside the walled city. She also taught music at St. Stephen’s Girls College.
In 1981 she started a charity called the St. Stephen’s Society. It exists to preach the gospel, reach he poor and see people set free through faith in Jesus Christ. Our heart is to go to the ends of the earth to make disciples.
(See note about St. Stephen’s Society)
The Society provided rehabilitation homes for recovering addicts, prostitutes and gang members. By December 2007 it housed 200 people. The Hong Kong government recognized the charity and donated land for the homes.
In May 2019 Justin Welby went to Hong Kong. He was there with his wife to attend the 17th Anglican Consultative Council.
Archbishop of Canterbury visits Jackie Pullinger to see discipleship in action
He went to see the Shing Mun Springs Multi-Purpose Rehabilitation home and Jackie Pullinge. (See picture and notes)
The early years of her ministry in Hong Kong are chronicled in the book Chasing the Dragon (2006) which has been translated into several languages
A photographic account of her work A Crack in the Wall: The Life and Death of Kowloon Wall City has also been published. (See ‘Amazon’ notes)
Sources used
Amazon
St Stephen’s Society - official website for Jackie Pullinger
Wikipedia
Christmas Evans (1766-1838) was born on Christmas day, December 25th 1766.
He was Welsh nonconformist minister who has been described as ‘the greatest preacher that the Baptists have ever had in Great Britain’ known by D.M. Lloyd-Jones.
Christmas was born near the village of Llandysul, Cardiganshire. His father, a shoemaker, died when his son was 9 years of age.
He grew up as an illiterate farm labourer. He stood about 7 feet tall and lost an eye during a youthful brawl.
Aged 17 he became the servant of David Davies, a Presbyterian minister, who taught him to read and write in English and Welsh. Visiting Calvinistic Methodist preachers and members of the Baptist church in Llandysul influenced him, so he joined the Baptists.
Career
In 1789 he settled for 2 years on the remote Llyn Peninsula in Caernarfonshire.
He then moved to Llangeful in Anglesey. here on a stipend of £17 a year,he built up a strong Baptist community. Many new chapels were built, the money being collected on preaching tours which he undertook in South Wales.
In 1826 he moved to Caerphilly, where he stayed for 2 years. In 1828 he moved to Cardiff. In 1832, responding to an urgent call, He settled in Caernarfon and again took undertook the old work of building and collecting.
Style of preaching
Christmas was a remarkably powerful preacher. With a natural aptitude for his calling he united a nimble mind and an inquiring spirit. His chief characteristic was a vivid and affluent imagination, which absorbed and controlled his other abilities, he earned the name ‘The Bunyan of Wales’. His sermons enlightened the understanding and warmed the heart. His piety humble and his faith fervently evangelical.
His famous ‘The Graveyard Sermon’ was included in Grenville Kleiser’s 1909, 9 volume The World’s Great Sermons. .
In 1838 he was taken ill, in the house of Daniel David,while on another tour of South Wales. He died in Swansea on 19th July 1838. His funeral was one of the largest ever attended in the country. He is buried in the grounds of Swansea’s Bethesda Chapel.
His works were edited by Owen Davies in 3 volumes and published in Caernarvon between 1895-7.
Christmas Evans came on the scene in the late 18th century and became one of the greatest preachers in the national history of powerful Gospel preaching in Wales
(It is believed to bring good luck to kiss his headstone - making it the Swansea version of the Barney Stone.)
Source
Wikipedia
Yesterday, Sunday, 13th October 2019, John Henry Newman was canonised - he was declared a saint. I went onto Google and found some information about Cardinal John Henry Newman. There’s lots to be found -here are a few relevant pieces of information.
St. Hilda’s day is November 17th. She was the abbess at Whitby monastery in the seventh century. She is remember for a wisdom. She was so wise that even kings sought her opinion. She came from a Royal family. Her father, Hereric, was the great nephew of King Edwin of Northumberland. She never married and became a nun. For over 30 years she was the Abbess of Whitby.
I have included two brief histories, a piece of gap work and a crossword and word search - answers included.
Saint Aidan was an Irish monk from Saint Columbo’s monastery on the Isle of Iona. In 635 Aidan was made bishop and set off for Northumbria.
He decided to make his new headquarters on Lindisfarne or Holy Island, a rocky island off the east coast of Northumberland. There he built a wooden church and monastery huts for his companions and himself and started a school for boys. The monks lived a life of prayer, study and austerity (no luxuries). From here they went on their missions.
The monastery was in sight of Bamborough, the castle/capital of King Oswald.
Initially he had a problem with the English language so the king interpreted for him. They soon became great friends. Saint Aidan was a simple and gentle man but quick to recognise goodness. He walked everywhere spreading the gospel and founded churches for his small Christian communities. (The king’s son Oswin , when he became king, offered him a horse but he gave it away)
In his years of evangelism he was responsible for the the construction of churches, monasteries and schools throughout Northumbria.
His friend King Oswald was killed after a battle with Penda, king of Mercia. Penda unable to take Bamborough created a fire which he hoped, wind assisted, would destroy the city. Saint Aidan prayed and the wind turned dramatically - Penda’s army retreated.
A while later Oswy invaded Northumbria. Oswin, knowing he could not win, dismissed his army. One of his own earls betrayed him. Saint Aidan died of shock when he heard the news - August 31st 651.
Saint Aidan is known as the Apostle of Northumbria.
Joseph Lightfoot, Bishop of Durhamwent several steps further
Augustine was the Apostle of Kent, but Aidan was the Apostle of the English*.
I have included some information about the island of Lindisfarne.
Sources used Wikipedia, * The Church’s Year* by Charles Alexander
Marygate House
Kenneth was an American preacher. He is known for pioneering the Word of Faith movement.
His most frequently quoted verse was
For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be removed, and be though cast into sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he hath saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever ye desire, when you pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark ch 11 v 23/4
Kenneth was born with a deformed heart and what was believed to be an incurable blood disease. Aged 15 he became paralyzed and bedridden. In April 1933 he converted to Christianity. During the conversion he reportedly died 3 times over a period of 10 minutes, due to his deformed heart condition. He remained paralyzed.
On 8th August 1934 he was raised from his deathbed having reading read Mark 11 v23/4 and was miraculously healed.
Jesus appeared in visions to Kenneth 8 times over several years. They changed the course of his ministry.
In 1936 he founded his first non-denominational church. He preached his first sermon in a small community Baptist church in Roland Texas. In 1937 he became an Assemblies of God (AOG) minister and pastored for the next 12 years in 5 AOG churches. He started to travel.
On 25 th of November 1938 he married Oretha Rooker. They were married for 64 years and had 2 children -Kenneth Wayne(1939) and Patricia(1941).
He began an itinerant ministry as a Bible teacher and evangelist in 1949 after a vision.
Between 1947-58 he joined the Voice of Healing Revival in the USA.
He was given full admission to the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International -established in 1951…
On 23rd January 1963 he formed the Kenneth E. Hagin Evangelistic Association (now K.H. Ministries) in Garland, Texas. This grew to include numerous media outreaches and ministries. ( Read notes on Evangelistic Association)
1966 , now in Tulsa, started selling reel to reel sermons. November he taught on KSKY radio for the first time.
1967 ordained minister by the North Texas District Council of AOG. Began regular radio broadcast ofFaith Seminar of the Air (2020 still being broadcast by son.)
1973 Kenneth, at a camp meeting, announced the creation of a ‘Bible training center’. 1974 founded Rhema Bible Training Center (now college). The college is known locally for its annual Christmas display (2 million lights)
( Read notes on Rhema Bible College)
He wrote over 40 books. ( See Publications)
Kenneth lived to be 86. On Saturday 13th, 2003 he went to bed feeling ill. He died 6 days later on Friday 19th September
His son, Kenneth, is currently the pastor of Rhema Bible church and President of Kennith Hagin Ministries
Sources used
Encyclopedia.com
Kennith Hagin Ministries
Wikipedia
Thomas was an English Wesleyan Methodist preacher. He was converted by John Wesley on 1st May 1739 in Bristol.
In March 1740 he travelled for a period with Charles Wesley,
In 1742 John put him in charge of the Foundery Society directing him to pray with the members and give them suitable advice. He also began to preach ’ without being called to it’ so there were complaints. Countess of Huntindon was impressed with his talents. Wesley heard Thomas and decided the dispute in his favour.
In June 1745 he was 'pressed ’ for the navy while preaching in Cornwall. He ended up being given over to the military and spent several years in the army.
On his release John had him ordained at Bath, He became one of Wesley’s main assistants and an assistant chaplain to the Countess of Huntingdon.
Thomas was a divisive figure. He encouraged those who had visions. He adopted fellow minister George Bell’s prediction that the world would end on 28th February 1763.
A schism became inevitable. Thomas in February told Wesley You take too much upon you .April 28th he broke from Wesley. Bell and about 200 left,
Thomas set up his own church in Moorfield.
A reunion was attempted but it never happened. (Read last 2 paragraphs)
Thomas had a large congregation in Ropemaker’s Alley, Moorfield,. He finally set up in Princes Street. Moorfield.
Wesley did visit Thomas in his last illness and preached in his chapel.
Thomas died at his house in Moorfields on 18th March 1784.
Dietrick Bonhoeffer was a German protestant theologian who was important foe his support of ecumenism (unity) and his view of Christianity’s role in the secular world. His slight involvement in a plot to overthrow Adolf Hitler led to hie imprisonment and execution. His Letters and Papers from Prison published after his death is perhaps the most profound document of his convictions.
Dietrick was brought up amid the academic circles of the University of Berlin. He was a gifted pianist and his family through the would study music.To their disappointment, aged just 14, he said he wanted to be a minister and theologian.
Aged 21 he graduated from University of Berlin with a degree in Theology. He spent a short time in Spain being an assistant pastor to a German congregation. He went back to Germany to write a dissertation to earn the right to a university appointment. After a year in the USA he returned to take up the post of lecturer in systematic theology at University of Berlin.
Adolf Hitler and Nazism were coming to the for.
He wrote the Cost of Discipleship in 1937 - a call to a more faithful and radical obedience to Christ. During this time he was teaching pastors in an underground seminary. When it was discovered the Confessing Church became increasingly reluctant to speak out against Hitler. Dietrick to this point had been a pacifist and had tried to oppose Nazis through religious action and moral persuasion.
He decided to become a double agent. He also became involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler. He was never at the centre of the plans but his resistance efforts to help the Jews was discovered. he was taken to Tegel prison.
He spent 2 years in prison. Dietrick corresponded with family and friends, pastoring fellow prisoners and reflecting on the meaning of *Jesus Christ for Today*. In prison he began to outline a new theology.
He was transferred to Buchenwald and then to the extermination camp at Flossenburg. 9th April 1945 , with 6 other from the resistance he was hanged.
10 years later a camp doctor who witness the hanging said ,
I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God. *
Sources used
Britannia Online Encyclopedia
Christianity Today
Great Leaders of the Christian Church edited by John D, Woodbridge
The Feast of Corpus Christi is a special celebration of the Eucharist - the Lord’s Supper- remembering the Holy Body and Blood of Christ.
It is liturgically celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday or*** where the Solemnity of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ is not a holy day of obligation, it is assigned to the Sunday after the Most Holy Trinity as its proper day.***
At the end of the Holy Mass there is a procession of the Blessed Sacrament generally displayed in a monstrance -an open or transparent receptacle in which the consecrated Host is displayed for veneration.
Corpus Christi wreaths, which are made of flowers, are hung on the doors and windows of the faithful in addition to being erected in gardens and fields.
The procession is followed by the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
In Rome the Eucharistic procession is presided over by the Pope.
In Arundel, England, they have a central aisle of flower heads laid down in a colourful pattern.
The institution of Corpus Christi as a feast in the Christian Calender resulted from approximately 40 years of work on the part of Juliana of Liege, a 13th century Norbertine canoness.
Source
Wikipedia
Doug Anderson USA
Meredith Andrew USA
Onos Ariyo Nigeria
Paul Alan USA
Yolanda Adams USA
A little bit of information about the 5 of them from Wikipedia.
Saint Matthew or Levi was one of the twelve original disciples of Jesus. According to the Gospels Matthew was a 1st century Galilean. He is referred to as being a publican or tax collector in Capernaum before becoming one of the twelve apostles.
He would have witnessed first hand Jesus carrying out his miracles and speaking parables. He would have witnessed much of Jesus’ last three years of his ministry including the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.
His ministry after Christ’s resurrection is vague. Christian fathers such as Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria claim that Matthew preached th gospel to the Jewish community in Judea before going to other countries.
The Catholic and Orthodox Churches each hold the tradition that he died a marytr.
Did Matthew write the Saint Matthew’s gospel ?
The author is not named within the text.
Papias of Hierapolis (c60-163 AD) is cited by church historian Eusebius (260-340 AD as saying *Matthew collected the oracles, in the Hebrew language and each interpreted them as best he could.
Sources used wlkipedia and The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander.
Joseph Prince is a televangelist, senior pastor and one of the founders (1983) of New Creation Church based in Singapore, plus being an author.
Joseph is the son of a Sikh priest and Chinese mother. He was born on the 15th May 1953.His birth name was Xenonamandar Jegahusiee Singh. He adopted the name of Joseph Prince while serving as an IT consultant just before he was appointed senior pastor in 1990.
He spent his primary school years in Perak, Malaysia. He studied at Commonwealth Secondary School and completed his ‘A’ levels at Our lady of Lourdes, a private school.
Joseph prior to 1997 had preached at churches across the world - Europe, Canada and USA and Australia.
In 1997, while on holiday in the Swiss Alps with his wife, Wendy, God spoke to him. He was told he had not been preaching grace. God gave him a mandate to preach grace- pure and unadulterated
*If you don’t preach pure, unadulterated grace, people’s lives will never be gloriously blessed and gloriously transformed.
Desiring to see his congregation liberated, empowered and blessed by the Lord, Joseph fully embraced the mandate and has not looked back.
The Singapore church numbers in 1997 were 2,000. Today there are 30,000 members.
Since 1997 he has spoken in Israel, Norway, Germany, Holland, the UK. the USA, Canada, Australia and Asia. Impacting on both believers and church leaders with practical and revelatory preaching that unveils to the person the grace of Jesus Christ
In 2014 Grace Revolution Church was birthed in Dallas. Texas. There is now a vibrant community of grace believers living there.
In 2017 the Joseph Prince Ministry launched Decibel - an online channel and digital magazine with bite sized videos, articles and other inspiring contents to reach young people with the Gospel. May it loudly ring.
Over the last 13 years (2007-20) he has written Christian books.
( See publications)
Reading the paragraph - Compensation - it seems he is well paid… His church - New Creation Church regard his net worth as ‘personal in nature’.
Grace is so important . It is an anagram of Great Riches at Christ’s Expense.
The world is so much richer for Joseph Prince following God’s mandate to preach pure, unadulterated grace.
Sources used
Joseph prince Ministries
Wikipedia
captain Thomas Coram (c.1668-1751 was a philanthropist who created the London Foundling Hospital in Lamb’s Conduit Fields, Bloomsbury, to look after abandoned children. It is said to be the world’s first incorporated charity.
Thomas Coram, while living in Rotherhithe , regularly travelled into London. He was frequently shocked by the sight of infants exposed in the streets, often in a dying .
He agitated for the foundation of a foundling hospital. This institution was to be a children’s home for children and orphans who could not be properly cared for.
He laboured for 17 years.
He induced many ladies of rank to sign a memorial.
King George 11, in 1739, finally signed a charter for the Foundling Hospital and considerable sums were subscribed.
20th November 1739 saw the first meeting of the guardians at Somerset House.
Later a vote of thanks was given to Coram who requested thanks should also be given to the interested ladies.
William Hogarth, a personal friend of Thomas, showed great interest in the undertaking. In May 1740 he presented his portrait of Coram to the hospital. He introduced a portrait of Coram into an engraved power of attorney for receiving subscriptions. He presented a picture of Moses with Pharaoh’s daughter. Finally he gave 157 tickets in the lottery for the ‘March to Finchley’ -one of the 157 tickets won the prize.
Some houses were taken and the first children were admitted in 1741. A piece of land was bought for £7,000 in Bloomsbury. Lord Salisbury, the owner insisted that the whole of his ground as far as Gray’s inn lane should be taken. He also subscribed £500.
Coram continued to invest in the hospital. Up until 1742 he continued to be elected to the General Committee. But at the May Day meeting in 1742 he did not receive enough votes. As a result he no longer had any say in the management of the hospital.
Why? No clear reason is obvious but he is said to have spread defamatory rumours about 2 of the governors or he expressed criticism towards how the hospital was run.
16th September 1742 the foundation stone for the hospital was laid.
October 1745 the west wing was finished. Children moved into the new building.
Hogarth was among the first governors of the Foundling hospital.
Handle gave performances at the hospital in 1749 and 1750. ( See ‘Legacy’)
.
Today the Foundling Hospital continues as the children’s charity Coram, with a mission to improve the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.
( See ‘Coram’ for more info)
In 2000Coram Boy - a children’s book about the hospital, by Jamila Gavin was published. Now a play.
William Coram died on 29th March 1751, aged 81. He was buried in the chapel of the Foundling Hospital. A statue and inscription was erected in front of the building 100 years later. In 1935 the building was demolished. Today his exhumed remains are in the chapel of Ashlyns School.
Alfred the Great was the king of th e West Saxons from 871-886 and king of the Anglo-Saxons c.886-899.
He is venerated as a saint by some Christian traditions. The Anglican community venerate him as a Christian hero with a feast day or commemoration on 26th October. He is often depicted in stained glass windows in C of E parish churches.
Alfred was the youngest son of King AEthelwulf. Three of his brothers AEthelbald. AEtheberht and AEthelred, reigned in turn before him.
After ascending the throne he spent several years fighting Viking invasions. In 878/9 he had a decisive victory at the Battle of Edington. (He did not win all the battles) With the Vikings he created Danelaw in the North of England. He saw the Viking leader. Guthrum converted to Christianity. He became the dominant ruler in England
Alfred had a great love of the church. As a child he had made the difficult journey to Rome to be blessed by the Pope.
As king he now turned to rebuilding of civilisation and religion among his people.
The Danes had destroyed nearly all th churches and schools in the land. He restored communications with Rome and invited scholars and monks from the Europe and Ireland to come and help in the revival of learning in England. He encouraged the building of churches, monasteries and schools.
Alfred studied and translated into Anglo-Saxon the Psalms. He also translated from Latin into Old English certain works that were regarded at the time as providing models of ideal Christian kingship and ‘most necessary for all men to know.’
From his followers he won the title ‘Protector of the Poor’.
Bishop Asser of Wales was set the task of writing the king’s biography - he emphasised Alfred’s positive aspects. He presented Alfred as the embodiment of the ideal, but practical, Christian ruler.
By the time of the Reformation Alfred was seen as a pious Christian who promoted the use of English rather then the Latin
He was given the epithet as ‘the Great’ by writers in the 16th century not by his contemporaries.
He reigned for 30 years. He died aged just 50.King Alfred was never canonised (although HenryV1 asked Pope EugeneIV in 1441 to canonise him).
History Today published an article The Most Perfect Man in History- I have enclosed most of the article.
I desire to live worthily as long as I lived, and to leave after my life, to the men who should come after me, the memory of me in good works
Alfred’s translation of passage from* Consolation of Philosophy* by Boethius
Source used
Wikipedia
Epiphany means ‘revelation’, ‘manifestation’ or ‘showing forth’ - it was the revealing of Jesus to those who were not Jewish - the magi, 3 kings, or 3 wise men were Gentiles. January 6th is the feast day
January 6th originally was used to celebrate the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. When Jesus received the Holy Ghost it was manifested to the people.
The 3 kings are part of the Nativity plays, along with the shepherds, which are part of the birth story of Jesus. Tradition suggests that they arrived days following Halley’s Comet, maybe weeks after, the birth of the baby Jesus.
Tradition has named them as Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar and they brought gifts of gold (kingship), frankincense (godship0 and myrrh (for burial0.
In orthodox churches Epiphany is also known as The Feast of the Holy Theophany and is important as Christmas. Special cakes are eaten in Spain, France and Mexico.
This is also the time that some children from Spain and Italy receive their Christmas presents from the 3 Magic Kings. (Read Epiphany, the Feast of The Three Kings)
( Winter swimming is even mentioned!!)
January 6th is also Twelfth Night when the Christmas decorations normally are taken down.
Sources used
Wikipedia
Church Dates for Children by Tony Batchelor
Saint Hugh of Lincoln was born in Avalon in France - that’s why he also known as Hugh of Avalon.
His mother died when he was only 8. His father, Guillaume, a soldier, decided to retire and together they went to the monastery of Villard-Benoit, near Grenoble Aged 15 Saint Hugh became a religious novice. Aged 19 he was ordained a deacon.
On his father’s death in about 1165 he joined the monks at the Carthusian motherhouse of La Grande Chartreuse near Grenoble. He was ordained a priest and later became procurator of the housse ( c.1170).
In 1179/80 he came to England where he was appointed by Henry11 to be the first prior of the Carthusian house of Witham in Essex. He became bishop of Lincoln in 1186. He was consecrated at Westminster. As both prior and bishop he defended the church’s liberties and gained respect from the monarchy.
In 1185 Lincoln cathedral had been was badly damaged because of an earthquake. Saint Hugh set about rebuilding and greatly enlarging it in the new Gothic style.
He was now one of the premier bishops in the UK and acted as a diplomat… Following visit to La Grande Chartreusein in 1200, to promote peace between King John of England and King Philip Augustus of France, he fell ill.
He died in London and was buried in Lincoln Cathedral on November 24th , 1200. Two kings, 17 bishops, nobles and crowds of the common people came to the funeral of this much loved man.
Saint Hugh is often shown with a swan by his side. This is because at his palace at Stow Park he had a pet wild swan. It would follow him everywhere, looking for food in his clothes, ’ walking ’ upstairs in the house and even guarding him while he slept.
At the time of the Reformation he was the best known saint after Thomas Becket.
Sources used
wikipedia
Britannica Online Encyclopedia
The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander
I have put together 10 New Testament profiles which I hope should prove of use. I have included all/many of the biblical references for all of them.
Mary and Joseph the parents of Jesus, and Zechariah and John the Baptist are related. Zechariah's wife, Elizabeth, is a cousin of Mary and John the Baptist is their son. I have included a statement explaining what happened normally to illegitimate babies in Israel 2000 years ago.
Andrew, Simon Peter and Matthew are three of the disciples of Jesus.
Mary Magdalene, according to the gospels, only had seven demons removed by Jesus. There is actually nothing to say what she did before she became a follower of Jesus.
Lazarus was raised from the dead and Stephen was the first Christian martyr.