St.Crispin and St. Crispinian’s Feast Day is October 25th. I have some pictures and information about these twin brothers who were martyred towards the end on the third century. I have included a short word search.

Hugh Cook Faringdon’s feast day is November 15th . Hugh Cook Farington was the last abbot of Reading Monastery. He was found guilty of high treason because he did not accept that HenryVIII was the supreme head of religious matters. He believed the Pope was the supreme head of religious matters. Because he was found guilty of treason he suffered the indignity of being hung, drawn and quartered in front of Reading’s Abbey Gate on November 14th 1539. I have put together several pieces of information about H.C.F. The first piece is like a time-line. The second sheet briefly explains about how the dissolution of the monasteries cam about. The third sheet is Wikipedia . The fourth sheet is a painting depicting H.C.F. being prepared for execution - the painting is in Reading’s Abbey gate. I have also included a word search with answers.

Saint Caedmon is an example of someone who late in life discovers he has a gift. He was a humble cowherd, of the seventh century, who after a dream found not only could he sing in tune but put Biblical stories to music. I have written a short piece about the dream. I have included the detailed information created by Brittannia.com. There is a copy of his only remaining hymn. According to the Venerable Bede Saint Caedmon’ could not compose any trivia’ . I have attempted to write couplets using his end words.

William Cameron Townsend became known as Uncle Cam. He spent 60 years in Latin America working in many countries. His contribution to the academic community and his encouragement to members of small ethnic groups to understand their personal worth cannot be measured. He had a dream that he wanted the whole world to be able to read the Bible in their native language. This he set out to do by founding the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL). He was a very humble man. A local man, from an Aztec village said Uncle Cam would leave his dinner not only for the president but also to talk with him. His gravestone reads,** Dear Ones: By love serve on another. Finish the task. translate the Scripture into every language. Uncle Cam. The SIL continues to fulfill his dream. I have used several web sites for my information including Wikipedia, wycliffe org. and tshaonline.org plus Ambassadors for Christ,

They were 2 Christian workers from the same country - China. Both were brilliant students with promising futures. Both were dynamically saved as teenagers and became diligent students of God’s word and zealous gospel preachers. Both were prolific speakers and writers. Both were persecuted for their ministry. Both changed many lives. The ministries of Watchmen Nee and Witness Lee have brought a treasury of spiritual truth and life to the Body of Christ. Tom Smith Watchmen Nee was a Seer of the Divine Revelation in the Present Age -the title of the biography written by his fellow worker Witness Lee. In the span of his 30 years of public ministry he made an indelible mark on the face of Christianity in China. He was saved aged 17. His mentor was Margaret E. Barber ( See TES for more more info.). Nee was both a zealous preacher and a diligent student of the Bible. His most widely recognized and appreciated books are The Normal Christian Life and The Normal Christian Church Life Persecution resulted in Nee being imprisoned for 20 years (1952-72). This was his final note Christ is the Son of God who died for the redemption of sinners and resurrected in 3 days. This is the greatest truth in the universe. I die because of belief in Christ. Watchmen Nee Witness Lee was born in 1905 in th Shantung Province of China. He was saved aged 15. His dynamic salvation put him on a pathway of pursuit for the Lord did not stop until his death in 1997. Nee (1903) and Lee (1905) were born only 2 years apart but Lee regarded Nee to be his spiritual father. In 1932 Nee asked Lee to overseer of Shanghai Gospel Bookroom. For 17 years years they laboured together. In 1949 Nee realized that the new Communist Government would try to end their ministry. Lee reluctantly agreed to leave China for Taiwan. Lee continued to labour in Taiwan through the 1950s, He saw the church grow over the next 5 years from 350 to 20,000. After 9 years he started to make visits to the West. He conducted conferences in London and Copenhagen. Between 1958-61 he visited the USA 3 times. Lee moved to the USA in 1962. In the USA he presented the riches of Christ from the whole Bible. He continued to travel and speak in conferences and annual trainings. in 1965 establshed The Stream Publishers which became * Living Stream Ministry*. His most notable publication was* Life-Study of the Bible*. It took 20 years to complete (1974-95). Lee died in June 1997. To date over 3, 000 churches on 6 continents. *Watchman Nee and Witness Lee taught the same thing, were of the same spirit, and ministered with the same goal - to minister Christ for the building up of the Body of Christ in oneness, expressed in local churches all over the earth Tom Smith Sources used Contending for the Faith Two ministers one ministry

Sir George Williams was an English philanthropist and founder of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). The YMCA is the oldest and largest youth charity in the world. Its aim is to support young people to belong, contribute and thrive in their communities. George was born into a farming family in Dulverton, Somerset, England. He was youngest of 7 surviving sons of Amos and Elizabeth Williams. He was baptized into the Church of England. His family sent him to Bridgewater to be an apprentice at Henry William Holmes’ draper shop. 1837 saw him change from Anglicanism to the Zion Congregational Church. 1841 he moved to London and worked at Hitchcock& Roger’s drapers shop. He attended the King’s Weigh House Congregational Church. 3 years later(1844) he became departmental manager. On the 6 th June 1844 George, aged just 22, gathered 11 other young drapers into the living quarters of Hitchcock & Rogers to create a place that would not tempt young men to sin. The name . Young men’s Christian Association (YMCA) was suggested by Christopher W. Smith. It promoted Muscular Christianity. George Hitchcock, George’s boss, and future father-in-law, was one of the first converts and contributors to the new association. He became the associations first treasurer. ( See* Founding of YMCA* for full list) In 1853 he married Hitchcock’s daughter Helen Jane Maunder. Hitchcock and taken into partnership at the drapers. When Hitchcock died in 1863 George became sole owner. The YMCA grew. It spread across London. It spread the USA. It reached Canada in 1851. In 1855 it went global. The first YMCA World Conference was organized. This produced the ’ Paris Basis’ - an international agreement about the aims of the YMCA. by 1905 there were 45 YMCAs across the world with a membership of 700,000. In 1894, YMCA’s Silver Jubilee year, George was knighted by Queen Victoria and given the Freedom of the City of London. Sir George died in 1905. The funeral took place in St. Paul’s Cathedral on 14th November, 2,600 attended. He was buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral. There is a commemorative stain glassed window in Westminster Abbey. The YMCA, every year, on Founders Day - 6th June, remember and celebrate the 22 year old, George Williams, who created the largest youth charity in the world. Sources YMCA wikipedia

David O. Oyedepo is the founder, senior pastor and presiding Bishop of the megachurch Faith Tabernacle in Ota, Ogun State. Nigeria. It is also known as Winners’ Chapel International. It is the largest church in the world with regard to a seating capacity of 50,400. ( The Basilica of of Our Lady of Peace, in Rome, is a bigger building .) David comes from a mixed religious family. His grandmother introduced him to the virtues of Christian life via early morning prayers which she attended with him. She taught him to tithe. In 1969 he was ‘born again’ through the influence of his teacher, Betty Lasher. He studied to be an architect and briefly worked with the Federal Ministry of Housing. He resigned to concentrate on missionary work. He received a PhD i Human Development from Honolulu University, Hawaii, USA. He says In May 1981 he received a mandate, through an 18 hour vision from God, to liberate the world from the oppression of the devil by preaching the word of faith. As a result he founded Liberation Faith Hour ministries, which later became Living Faith Church World Wide (LFCWW) . 17th September 1983 David and his wife Florence (now known as Faith) were both ordained pastors by Pastor Enoch Adeboye , the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. 1988 David is ordained bishop. The church was founded on the 11th of December 1983. Cannanland was procured in 1983 and was initially 560 acres. The foundation laying took place on 29th August 1998. The church’s international headquarters , Faith Tabernacle was built in Cannanland between 1998- 9 and took 12 months to complete. It was dedicated in September 1999. David’s church runs its own publishing company- Dominion Publishing House. It was commissioned on 5th December 1992. It has published 70 Christian, inspirational and motivational books, magazines and other resources. It has over 4 million prints in circulation to date (See* Book Publishing* ) Cannanland is turning into Cannan City. It has Covenant university, Faith Academy secondary and Kingdom heritage model schools, plus shops, restaurants and housing. In 2012 it was proposing to build a 15,000 housing estate on the 17,000 acres. ( See Place of worship) The church owns 4 private jets and several buildings in London and USA. The Chapel International network of churches is now located in over 300 cities, in all states in Nigeria, and in several cities in 45 African nations, the UK and USA. David had been recognized as one of the pioneers of the Christian charismatic movement and exponent of prosperity theology in Africa. He is one of the most powerful preachers in Nigeria and is Chancellor of both the Covenant and Landmark University. In March 2020 he opened his church during the COVID -19 pandemic (Read Sunday service after backlash) Sources used Oyedepo speaks on Sunday after backlash wikipedia

Theodore was a British Christian evangelist and author. He was known as Mr. Sparks or TAS. He was born in London but at a young age moved to Scotland to live with his father’s relatives. Aged 17 he decided to become a Christian having listened to a group of young street preachers in Glasgow. He saw the truth of believer’s baptism and as a result got baptized and left the Church of Scotland. Theodore, at the age of 24, was ordained a Baptist and Congregational minister. He became one of Dr. Campbell Morgan’s young men. For 14 years (1912-26) he led 3 congregations in Greater London. During this time he saw a tremendous change in his congregations. The nominal Christians became ‘born again’ -one after another found the Lord and this turned the church inside out. Theodore had established himself as a conference speaker especially on teaching the Bible, but a tension was building up inside . He said to his wife, ‘’ I’m going to my study _ _ _ _ .’’ He read Romans chapter 6 - a chapter he knew well-** but this time it was as if heaven opened, and light shone into his heart and for the first time he understood that he was crucified with Christ and the Holy Spirit was within and upon him.** He emerged from his study a changed man. He began to preach Christ, he began to magnify the Lord Jesus, and the church came into an altogether new experience. He soon began to preach ‘the way of the cross.’ The new experience instead of opening every pulpit, closed them. The authorities thought he was dangerous/unbalanced. The Baptist Federation, in 1926, wanted a ‘Make More Baptist Year’. Theodore’s church wanted to ’ bring more people to the Lord’ and would not take part. The Federation had the title deeds to the church and house and within a week Theodore was out! A titled lady, who was a missionary in India, and in England at the time, came to his rescue… A local boys’ school had become vacant and she bought the whole property and gave it to the church. Honor Oak became his family’s home and later became the Honor Oak Christian Fellowship and Conference Centre. Theodore resigned his baptist ordination. The congregation at Honor Oak all agreed to leave the Baptist denomination. With like-minded Christians he established a conference and training centre at Honor Hall. Theodore’s ministry went from local , to national, to an international ministry. In the early days of the conferences people had tremendous experiences of the Spirit of the Lord and of the cross of Christ. A Witness and a Testimony a bi-monthly magazine was published (1923-1971). He published most of his messages in the magazine. His speaking ministry took him around the world. His Christian Fellowship Centre was international. Many trained under his ministry became missionaries and Christian teachers. At the end of his life he was a lone, prophetic voice in a spiritual wilderness Sources used The Life and Ministry of TAS Wikipedia

Dorothy Ripley was a British evangelist who went to the USA in 1801 and died in 1831 in Virginia. By confession she was a Quaker but she had been raised a Methodist. Dorothy was born in Whitby. Her father, William was a close associate of John Wesley. Wesley encouraged women to preach and William wanted his child to be a preacher. When Wesley visited he brought his group of women preachers with him. Her father, who died while she was still a teenager, encouraged her toward that vocation. On his death there were financial problems and other set backs which profoundly impacted on her . Dorothy believed she was called to Christian ministry and decided not to marry. She went to the USA on at least 9 occasions, most times travelling alone. She spent time as an itinerant preacher in New York, South Carolina and Georgia. She faced many challenges especially that she was a female preacher. To live she relied entirely on donations from people who believed in her ministry. The title of her second book The Bank of Faith and Works United explained her perseverance and the fact that her preaching won over her opponents since she continue to preach to large crowds. On her first trip in 1801 she gained an audience with President Thomas Jefferson. She rebuked him for his slave ownership but secured the ‘approbation’ to minister to slaves and slave owners. She founded a school to educate freed slaves. Dorothy preached in many African-American churches. Some male preachers were hesitant to let her preach but she won them over. 12 th January, 1806, she was the first woman to speak at USA capital. (Read D R 1st woman to preach sheet) In the UK she assisted Hugh Bourne in starting Primitive Methodism. With Lorenzo Dow the 3 of them conducted revival services and many people were brought into Primitive Methodist circles. One tour included a stay in prison for a night when she and the eccentric Dow were arrested. Dorothy wrote 6 books in total. Rose Butler had 11 editions published . In 1827 she had published in Philadelpia *Memoirs of William Ripley * (See Publishing career and WorldCat Identities) At her death in 1831, aged 64, one newspaper wrote in her obituary that she was perhaps the most extraordinary woman in the world. Sources used History.House. GOV WorldCat identities wikipedia

Pastor Michael Mcbride is known as Pastor Mike.He has been active in ministry for early 20 years. In 2013 he was in a group of 13 Faith Leaders to Watch. In 2000 graduated from Bethany College with a double B.A. in Addition Studies and Theology. In 2005 he graduated with a M.A. from Duke University Divinity School. In June 2005 he launched a new ministry, The Way Christian Center in West Berkeley where he currently serves as pastor. Over the past 10 years he has been committed to a holistic ministry through his leadership roles in both church and community. ( See 2 lists of positions held). Berkeleyside, an American ‘paper’ on June 5th, 2020. published Pastor Michael McBride’s thoughts on the present unrest in the USA - *The brutality of policing is reaching a breaking point in the social consciousness * He spoke to Berkeleyside about reasons for hope, Berkeley’s role and what can be done to effect meaningful change. I have enclosed the article Sources Huffpost Berkeleyside

Brownlow North was an English evangelist. Brownlow was born in Winchester House, Chelsea the only son of Rev, Augustus North. He was the grandson of the former bishop of Winchester, Brownlow North. Brornlow was educated at Eton College, Windsor. For a while he lived with his great uncle Frederick on the island of Corfu. \he fought with Dom Pedro’s army in Portugal before eventually settling in Scotland. He lived a life of pleasure enjoying hunting and gambling. He went to Magdalen Hall, Oxford . In November 1854 he experienced a religious conversion and began to attend Elgin Free Church where he proceeded to engage in public preaching. 1859 he was appointed an evangelist by the Free Church of Scotland. In the same year he became a significant figure in the Ulster revival where he preached to 12,000 at Newtonlimavady. Rabbi Duncan once remarked, on seeing a photograph of Brownlow There is intellect in the brow, genius in the eye, and eloquence in the mouth. Brownlow died on 9th November 1875 and is buried in Dean Cemetery in western Edinburgh. I have included information about his grandfather, Brownlow, the bishop of Winchester Source used wikipedia

Edward is probably best remembered for his hymn All hail the power of Jesus’ name. Edward was born in Sundridge, Kent, England. He was descendant of a French Huguenot family which fled first to Switzerland and then to England to escape religious persecution. Edward was the son of Vincent Perronet, an Anglican priest, who worked closely with John and Charles Wesley for many years during the 18th century revival. Vincent in 1728 became vicar at Shoreham church in Kent. At the time persecution of the new Methodist movement was common and John Wesley noted in his diary that Edward* was thrown down and rolled in the mud and mire* at Bolton. Edward was considered a capable preacher but the did not like preaching in front of John Wesley. On one occasion John announced that Edward would speak. He got up and read Christ’s Sermon on the mount and sat down ! In 1756 in* The Mitre* - the first prominent event in his life, he published a ferocious attack on the Church of England. This created a schism. He became one of the Countess of Huntingdon’s ministers in a chapel in Watling Street, Canterbury. Throughout he was passionate, impulsive strong willed but always lived near his his divine master.* He bursts in full of fire and enthusiasm, yet ebullient and volatile.* Edward eventually became a minister of an independent congregation. In his life time he wrote a number of hymns and published 3 volumes of Christian poems. His hymns were published anonymously in successive volumes .Select passages of the Old and New Testament. A small collection of Hymns. Occasional Verses, moral and sacred. ( The Rev A. B. Grosart gives a critic of Edward’s work on the second page of the Hymnary Sheet) Shortly before he died, on 2nd January 1792, he uttered these words- Glory to God in the height of His divinity! Glory to God in the depth of humanity! Glory to God in His all sufficiency! Into His hands I commend my spirit. Edward was buried in Canterbury Cathedral. At his death he is said to have left a large sum of money to Shrubsole, who was the organist at Spatfield’s Chapel, London, and who had composed the tune ‘Miles Lane’ for All hail the power of Jesus’’ name! I have included one version of* All Hail the power of Jesus’ name.* Sources used Hymnary.org wikipedia

It is difficult to separate Valentine’s Day from Saint Valentine. Valentine means -worthy, strong, powerful. 14th of February is celebrated with balloons, cards, flowers, with romantic meals and proposals of marriage. There are many legends about Saint Valentine. He restored the sight of a judge’s daughter. He is supposed to have helped Christian couples to get married so the husbands could avoid being conscripted into the army. Valentine is said to have cut hearts from parchment-first valentine cards? Helping Christians was a crime. Emperor Gothicus Claudius is supposed to have quite liked the prisoner until he attempted to convert him - he then had him condemned him to death Saint Valentine, from prison, is said to have completed a letter to the jailer’s daughter he had healed, with the words ’ from your Valentine Saint Valentine having been imprisoned and tortured was a short time later to be martyred, by being behead, for his Christian faith. Sources used wikipedia and awareness days.

Saint Matthias was the person chosen, by the disciples to replace Judas Iscariot. In the Acts of the Apostles we read that Peter stood up in the company - there were 120 of them in the room at the time and spoke about the need to replace Judas Iscariot who had betrayed Jesus. Two followers were nominated Matthias and Barnabas. The company prayed and the ‘lot’ fell upon Matthias. Five traditions are mentioned in wikipedia. The tradition of the Greeks say he planted the faith about Cappadocia and the coasts of the Caspian Sea, living near the port of Issus. According to Nicephorus he preached first in Judaea and then Aethiopia (modern Georgia) - and stoned to death. The Synopsis of Dorotheus suggests he went to Ethiopia and was buried near the temple of the Sun. Another suggests he was stoned in Jerusalem by the local populace and then beheaded. According to Hippolytus he died of old age in Jerusalem. His Feast day, in the Roman calendar, was 24th February (25th on a leap year) . In 1969 it was transfered to 24th of May. I have included the prayer for Saint Matthias . Sources wikipedia and the Church’s year by Charles Alexander.

He is probably best remembered as J.B. Phillips the translator/ author ofThe New Testament in Modern English which was published in 1958. During World War II (1939-45), while down in the bomb shelters, he began to translate The New Testament, from the original Greek, into modern English. He started with the epistle to the Colossians. The results appealed to the young people. The positive feedback after the war resulted in him translating the rest of the New Testament into colloquial English.Initially he had problems to find a publisher but with the help of C.S. Lewis, author of The Narnia Chronicles, Geoffrey Bles agreed to help. ** Letters to Young Churches came first in1947. Eleven years later in 1958 the complete New Testament was published. From someone who suffered from clinical depression throughout his life this was an incredible achievement. He described the revelation he received, as he translated the New Testament, as ’ extraordinarily alive’. Main source - Wikipedia

Wang Mung -Dao was born in Beijing, China. As a child he experienced extreme poverty and repeated illness but lived to be 90 years of age. As a child he attended the London Missionary Society School. He dream was to be a great political instead he became a Christian pastor. Aged 14 he converted to Christianity. He became a very successful independent Chinese Protestant pastor. From February 1925 until 1955 he began holding religious meetings. He founded the Christian tabernacle which by 1937 had its own building seating a congregation of several hundred. he had an itinerant ministry throughout China visiting 24 out of 28 provinces taking the pupit in churches of 30 different denominations. In 1955 the Chinese government imprisoned him for his faith. For 25 years he was kept in jail - finally released in 1980. It was after his imprisonment that he wrote the 6 books mentioned. On his release he had many foreign visitors which worried the authorities. Betwee 1987 -1989 he became frail and his mental abilities noticeably declined. I 1991 he was diagnose with blood clots and he died on July 28th 1992. One authority noted 'he remained an unrivaled symbol of uncompromising faith until his death.’ Source used wikipedia.

Charles Haddon Sturgeon was strong figure in the Reformed Baptist Tradition. Although he died over a 100 years ago his work is still read/quoted/used by preachers today -such is his influence still. He has been called the Prince of Preachers. His oratory skills are said to have held his listeners spell bound in the Metropolitan Tabernacle where he preached for 38 years. Converted at aged 15 he gave his first sermon aged 16 . The quality of his sermons were very quickly recognised and aged only 19, following three months on probation, he was called to the pastorate at London’s New Park Street Chapel which had the largest baptist congregation in London. His ability as a preacher soon made him famous His sermons, which lasted up to two hours were carefully prepared. He wrote it out in full but only took notes up into the pulpit.in 1855 the first of his sermons were published in the* New Park Street Pulpit* Stenographers would write his sermon down. Charles would check it and it would then be immediately published and sold for 1 penny a copy. In 1861 the church moved to the new purpose built Metropolitan Tabernacle which held 5,000 seated and 1, 000 standing. He published a vast amount of religious material - see works list. He was anti slavery . His ministry was not without controversy. He opposed the liberal and pragmatic theological tendencies in the church of his day - see information about Downgrade Source- wikipedia and have included a short crossword and word search.

Ravi Zacharias is an Indian born Canadian- American evangelist. Billy Graham in 1986 introduced Ravi as one of the most articulate young evangelists of our time. That was 34 years ago;. he is now in his early 70’s . In 1984 the Ravi Zacharis International Ministries (RZIM) was founded in Toronto, Canada to pursue his calling as a classical evangelist in the arena of the intellectual resistance. RZIM looks at evangelism, apologetics, training, spiritual discipline and wellbeing. Today it is based in Atlanta , Georgia with offices in 11 countries. He is renown for his sermons and lectures across the world. he routinely speaks on the coherence of the Christian worldview. saying that Christianity is capable of withstanding the toughest attacks. He is the author of 32 Christian books. He has spent the last 56 years commending the Christian faith and addressing life’s existential questions - origin, meaning, morality and destiny with elequence and grace. There is a great of information on Goggle. He can be both seen and heard. Sources wikipedia and* Ambassadors for Christ * John .D. Woodbridge -general editor

.Richard Wych or Wich lost his parents, who were of a gentry family, when he was very young. He and his brother were left as orphans and cheated of their inheritance. Richard was clever and became a student at Oxford University. In 1223 he became chancellor of the university. In 1233 he was whisked away by Saint Edmund Rich, the Archbishop of Canterbury to be his chancellor (1233-1240). Edmund quarreled with King Henry III and went into exile in France where he died in 1240. Richard studied to be a priest at Orleans and came back to the UK to become a parish priest. The new archbishop, Boniface of Savoy, asked him to become his chancellor and wanted him to become the archbishop of Chichester. The king was unhappy and declared no one should shelter him! With the intervention of Pope Innocent IV he became the archbishop. He was a reforming archbishop, of simple habits, generous in his charities and held the post form 1245 until his death in 1253. He provided vicarages for his clergy but insisted they remained celibate - unmarried, said the Mass reverently and instructed their congregations in the meaning of the sacraments. He was aa kindly, good man who was much loved by all the people. Included Richard’s prayer, and a black/white outline of Saint Richard. Sources The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander and catholicireland website.

His name can be spelled Anskar, Ansgar or Anchar. He was born in France. Of noble birth he entered the Benedictine abbey of Corbie in Picardy to be educated. He became a monk and after 823 he taught in the local monastic school at Corvey. In 826 he was dispatched Denmark by the Carolingian emperor, Louis 1 the Pious, to assist Harald, the exiled Danish king, in evangelising his savage Danes. Anskar laid the foundations of the church in Denmark and started a school to train Danish youths as priests. But in 827/8 Harald was driven out by the heathen. Anskar , with his friend Witmar, made the dangerous journey to Sweden. They were robbed on their way to Brika, an island off the coast. They stayed there for 2 years. In 831 Anskar became abbot of Corvey and the first bishop of Hamburg. For 15 years he founded monasteries, opened schools and teaching his congregations. In 834 Louis endowed him Turholt Abbey Later he became archbishop of Iceland, Greenland and Scandinavia. Things changed after the death of Louis1 in 1840. In 1845 Northmen destroyed Hamburg. Sweden and Denmark rejected Christianity and returned to paganism. In 847, with Louis the German, king of the East Franks, on the throne Anskar became bishop of Bremen. He revived evangelism in both Sweden and Denmark - both kings were converted to Christianity. He even thwarted a pagan rebellion. In 854 he returned to Hamburg - there he devoted himself to his diocese and reducing the horrors of slavery. He had wanted to die a martyr. His followers said his whole life had been a martyrdom of hardship, danger and self=sacrifice. Rimbert, his successor, wrote his biography. he proclaimed Anskar a saint. Pope Nicholas 1 agreed. Ansker was cannonized in 865, the year he died. (Rimbert or Rembert - different sources) Sources used Britannica and The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander.