Saint Francis was a friar and founder of Order of Minims. His parents were pious: they prayed for years, through the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi, for a son. As a child he showed a preference for abstinence and prayer. Aged 13 he was placed in a convent and was taught to read. He abstained from wearing linen or eating meat. Aged 14 he went on a pilgrimage with his parents to the Portiuncula at Assisi and then on to Rome. Aged just 15 he became a hermit. He made a cave and stayed alone for 6 years devoting himself to prayer and self-mortification… In 1436, aged now 20, he was joined by 2 other devoutly inclined persons. 3 cells and a chapel was built by local people. The 3 sang divine prayers every day in the chapel. A priest from the village celebrated mass with them. This marked the beginning of the order Hermits of Saint Francis of Assisi. Within 17 years the numbers had grown. In 1454 a large monastery and church were sanctioned by the Archbishop of Cosenza. Francis and his companions sought to live unknown and hidden from the world. To the 3 rules of Evangelical council - poverty, chastity and obedience they added fasting for Lent. On May17th 1474 Pope Sixtus IV gave his approval to the order. On July 28th 1506 Pope Julius 11 simplified the name of the community to Order of the Minims. Saint Francis died at Piessis on April 2nd aged 91 The order soon spread to France, Germany and Spain and continues to exist today. minims -meaning - least of the faithful – many at the beginning were laypersons not priests Sources Wikipedia The Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton

Saint Florin was a Roman soldier who advanced through the ranks to commander. He also was responsible for organizing and leading firefighting brigades. He was a Christian who did not enforce proscription ( public identification and official condemnation of enemies of the state) of Christians in his territory. Aquilinus was sent to investigate these reports. He refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods and he was sentenced to be burned at the stake. Standing on the funeral pyre he is reputed to have said, If you wish to know that I am not afraid of your torture, light the fire, and in the name of the Lord I will climb onto it. The apprehensive soldiers decided to drown him instead. They drowned him in the Enns River with a millstone around his neck. ( See painting by Albrecht Altdorfer) The name ‘Florin’ is given to many boys in Bavaria and Austria to secure the saint’s patronage against fire. Saint Florin is the patron saint of Poland and Austria. He is also celebrated in Hungary. Sources Wikipedia The Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton

Eugenia’s feast is celebrated on Christmas Day, December 25th. Her legend states that she was converted by and martyred with Protus and Hyacinth, her Chamberlains, during the persecution of Valerian. She is said to have been the daughter of Philip, ‘duke’ of Alexandria and governor of Egypt. . She fled her father’s house dressed as a man and was baptised by Helenus the bishop of Heliopolis. Dressed.as a man she became an abbot One of the stories tells of her curing a woman of an illness who made sexually advances towards her, which she rebuffed, while dressed as a man. She was accused of adultery. It went to trial. Her own father was the judge. In court she was exonerated when her true identity was revealed. Her father converted to the faith and became bishop of Alexandria. The emperor had him executed. Eugenia and the rest of the family fled to Rome but this did not prevent their martyrdom. Protus and Hyacinth were beheaded on September 11th AD 258. Eugenia, after Christ had appeared to her in a dream, was told she would die on the Feast of the Nativity. She was beheaded on Christmas Day, December 25th AD 258. Sources Wikipedia The Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton

There are two Christians called Erasmus in the history of Christianity Saint Elmo is venerated as the patron saint of sailors and abdominal pain. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. He was Bishop of Formia, Italy, during the persecution of Christians by emperors Diocletian and Maximian Hercules. He went to Mount Libabus where he hid for 7 years. An angel counseled him to return to the city. The Acts of Saint Elmo compiled from Legends tell us that on his way back to the city he met some soldiers who questioned him. He admitted to being a Christian. He faced Diocletian. He was bound with chains and thrown into prison- an angel helped him escape. He continued to confess his faith and Maximian had him enclosed in a barrel with protruding spikes and rolled down the hill - an angel intervened. He must eventually have died a cruel martyr’s death A number of unreliable legends fill Erasmus’ story. Sources Wikipedia

Desiderius Erasmas Roterodamus is considered to be one of the most influential thinkers of the Northern Renaissance because of his vast number of translations, books, essays, prayers and letters. He was one of the major figures of Dutch and Western culture. His medieval Dutch childhood ended in him being orphaned and impoverished. He went to Paris, Queen’s College Cambridge and Turin universities. He wrote in a spontaneous, copious and natural Latin style. He prepared new Latin and Greek scholarly editions of the New Testament with annotations and commentary. He wrote a vast number of books.(See list of Books by Erasmus) *His influential middle road approach disappointed, and even angered, partisans, in both camps. He remained a member of the Catholic church all his life, remaining committed to reforming the church from within. Sources Wikipedia

The story of Dymphna and her friends was first recorded in the 13th century after their bodies were discovered. Oral Tradition says Dymphna’s father, Damon, was a petty king of Oriel in Ireland ; her mother was a devout Christian. When she was 14 years of age she consecrated herself to Christ and took a vow of chastity. Her father’s mental health deteriorated when his wife died. His counsellors pressed him to remarry. He agreed on the condition the new wife looked like his first wife. Searching proved fruitless and he began to desire his daughter because of her resemblance to her mother. The daughter learned of his intentions and fled the court with her confessor Father Gerebemus , two trusted servants and the king’s fool. They went to Gheel (now Geel) in Belgium. Tradition says she built a hospice for the poor and sick in Geel. Her father’s agents eventually found her. Damon had Gerebemus killed. She refused to return so he drew his sword and struck off his 15 year old daughter’s head. Residents initially buried the two friends in a nearby cave; later moved to a more suitable location. 1349, nearly 700 years later, a church honouring Dymphna was built in Geel. By 1480 pilgrims were coming from all over Europe seeking treatment for psychiatric disorders. This tradition is still on going. Patients are called ‘boarders’. They become part of the community.It has continued for over 500 years. ( Read paragraph which begins with In 1349 for more information.) Dymphna w as beheaded on May 30th. The year of her death is uncertain. Dymphna is the Patron saint for the insane. Sources Wikipedia Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton

Edmund Campion died a martyr because his conscience was unable to accept the offer of freedom he was offered by the 3 privy councilors while being held in the Tower of London for treason… He was happy to accept Elizabeth 1 as queen but unable, in good conscience, accept the validity of the Anglican Church. In his Decern Rationes ( Ten Reasons) he explained his arguments against the validity of the Anglican Church. He had been educated in England at Oxford University. In 1564 he had received Holy Orders as a deacon in the Anglican Church but inwardly he took a remorse of conscience and detestation of mind. Religious difficulties arose. He moved to Ireland (1569-1570) where he helped establish the University of Dublin. He moved to Douai (1571-1573) in the Low Countries (France) where he was reconciled to the Catholic Church. He gained his Bachelor of Divinity degree while hr taught rhetoric. He received minor orders after this and was ordained sub-deacon. He travelled, on foot, as a pilgrim, to Rome in 1573 to join the Jesuits as a novice. In Prague (1573-1580) he was ordained a deacon and priest. For 6 years years he was professor of rhetoric and philosophy.E In 1580 the mission to England began badly. Before they left they learned that a letter detailing the mission had been intercepted. Edmund, in the guise of a jewel merchant.arrived in London on 24th June 1580. His presence soon became known but he began his task of administering the sacrament and preaching. In Norfolk, on 15th July, he was captured by George Eliot, a spy, and taken to London. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Interrogated. 14 th November indicted 20th November found guilty 1st December hung, drawn and quartered ( This is his Feast Day) Edmund was 41 years of age 23 educational institutions are named after him. Sources Wikipedia Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton

I had already written over 600 profiles of Saints and other famous Christians when I came across a list of 40 martyrs for England and Wales. (See List) I have simply copied parts from Wikipedia for the first 10. If a number of you are interested download the first 10- I will then do the other 30. Saints Almond, Arrowsmith, Barlow, Boste, Briant, Campion, Clitherow, Evans , Gernet and Lloyd (Evans and Lloyd are combined).

I was thinking of creating some junior material about Mary Seacole when I found National Geographic For Kids had already created this resource. See also notes on Kofoworota Abeni Pratt - first black Nigerian nurse in NHS

Bruno of Cologne, venerated as Saint Bruno, was the founder of the Carthusians - a Latin enclosed religious order of the Catholic church. It was founded by Bruno in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns. Their motto in English means The cross is steady while the world turns. I have included notes about both Bruno and the Carthusians (Wikipedia). His disciples praised his three chief virtues - his great spirit of prayer, extreme mortification and devotion to th e blessed virgin. He has long been regarded and as the patron saint of Calabria and one of the patron saints of Germany. Saint Bruno obviously lived a very active Christian llfe in the eleventh century AD

Anthony was born Fernando Martins de Bilhoes. Upon his admission to the the life of friars, later in life in Olivais he adopted the name Anthony ( from the name of the chapel located there and dedicated to Anthony the Great). He was a teacher and preacher. He was so charismatic that the crowds who came to listen to him during his 9 years of ministry could not be contained in a church. They gathered in the marketplace to his attacks on usury and avarice. He was noted by his contemporaries for his powerful preaching, expert knowledge of the scriptures and undying love for the sick and poor. He was chosen by St. Francis of Assisi to teach theology to the friars at Padua and Bologna. He was chosen by Pope Gregory 1X to produce a series of sermons for feast days. He gained a major reputation as a worker of wonders and miracles One of the best known stories about Anthony is that a novice borrowed his personal psalter without permission. The novice was compelled to return it by a terrifying apparition. This is the reason put forward for him being the patron saint of lost property. He died aged only 36. On his death he was one of the quickest to be canonized- less than one year of his death. In 1946 he was proclaimed a doctor of the church by Pope Pius X11. Sources Wikipedia Saints Over 150 Patron Saints for Today editor Elizabeth Hallam

Saint Anne according to apocrypha, as well a according to Christian and Islamic tradition, was the mother of Mary. the wife of Joachim and the maternal grandmother of Jesus. Mary’s mother is not mentioned by name in the N.T.gospels. of the Bible. Anne and her husband Joachim are only mentioned by name in the New Testament apocrypha in the Gospel of James. sources Wikipedia The Encyclopedia of Saints Howard Loxton

Saint Eloi or Eliguis, the Limousin goldsmith, was called to Paris to make a throne for Clotaire 1. He managed to make 2 from the metal allotted, earning the friendship of the king and more commissions, eventually becoming master of the Paris mint. His wealth enabled him to ransom slaves, build churches and monasteries and support the poor. He legislated for slaves to rest on holy days. A counsellor and diplomat at the court of Draobert, the son of Clotaire1, he was later ordained bishop of Noyon and Tournai in 641/2. According to legend he was forced to cut off the leg of a troublesome horse in order to shoe it but later restored it! Patron saint of goldsmiths, blacksmiths and farriers. Sources Wikipedia Saints Over 150 Patron saints for Today edited by Elizabeth Hallam

David Woodroffe, a professional illustrator, has created some very good clip art for my Easter resource. The Holy week sheet looks briefly at Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. I have created a page listing the personalities and the order of events from the Last Supper to Christ’s appearance, following his resurrection to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. The Poetry Aid can be used to create a poem or even a hymn to celebrate Easter. The fourteen stages of the cross has been deal with clip art. The main personalities have been included in a word search. The Easter diary can be written up on the ‘blank’ sheet. Children are often asked to see how many words they can find in a topical word - eg. Easter. I have enclosed four sheets, a lesson outline, a pupil sheet and two answer sheets. (I have included Pancake Day because I did not want to set up a resource of just two pages. )

Saint Apollonia was one of the group of virgin saints who suffered in Alexandra during a local uprising against the Christians prior to the persecution of Decius. According to church tradition her torture included having all her teeth violently pulled or shattered. This is why she is regarded as the patroness of dentistry and those suffering from toothache.or other dental problems. She was probably a deaconess and held in high esteem. Men seized her and broke and repeatedly broke her teeth. They then took her outside the city and erected a pile of wood to burn her alive… She refused to repeat blasphemous against Christ. Given, at her own request, a little freedom, she sprang quickly into the fire and was burned to death. Saint Apollonia is represented in art with pincers in which a tooth is held. Sources Wikipedia Saints Over 150 patron Saints for Today Editor Elizabeth Hallam

St. Augustine of Canterbury I think is the ' forgotten' saint of England. He is not to be confused with St. Augustine of Hippo. He is sometimes called' the Apostle of England' or' St. Augustine the less'. He was chosen by Pope Gregory to lead a mission to Britain. His task was to Christianize King Ethelbert and his kingdom of Kent from Anglo Saxon Paganism. In the short time he was in England (597- 604 AD) he laid the foundations for the Church of England. He was the first Archbishop of Canterbury. I have put together some information about Augustine with a 'gap' sheet, a simple crossword and word search, plus an answer sheet.

I decided to find out further information about the Top 20 leaders!! Using Wikipedia I found extra information about most of them - see breakdown on first sheet. For Billy Graham and Martin Luther King I have already done profiles for them in TES. For John Mark Comer I used* Pastors Bio*. For Pope Francis there are lots of page about him on Wikipedia. For Jim Winker I could only find a single paragraph. I hope this helps you in your research.

John Wesley is the founder of Methodism - the Methodist church. Until the age of 35 John Wesley was a 'normal' Christian. He had grown up in a Christian family and had become a clergyman but something was missing. On May 24th 1738 he had his 'spiritual birthday'. Today we talk about being 'born again'. His outlook on life changed dramatically. His sermons were no longer ordinary, congregations found them disturbing and he, along with others, were banned from preaching in church. He became a field preacher and his statue outside the New Room sees him astride his horse. For nearly fifty years he was out in the open, in all weathers, preaching the Good News. He kept a Journal, preached many sermons, wrote many books and even a dictionary. He brought the message that 'love casts out fear' to his listeners. I have created time line and written about his life in brief using Wikipedia and a Ladybird book. The book is called John Wesley, Founder of Methodism ISBN 0946550654. It is published by Methodist Publishing House, 4 John Wesley Road, Peterborough price £2. It is a typical ladybird book - writing with a very full text and well illustrated - see examples included.

I start with St. Nicholas - history and legends, letter to Father Christmas ideas, clip art for best copy and word search and one page on Advent. Christmas has a list of nativity characters, poetry aid, three journeys, 'How many words can you find in Christmas' and Diary Aid. Epiphany has one page. There are several clip art pictures to use.

While looking for a list of 21st century Christian to use to write more profiles about I came across this list of 20 Christians written by Scott Wilson for Church Ministry ED . Scott has done my homework for me. Scott has written short notes, with a picture, about each of the 20 he chose. He gives his reasons for including 5 famous Christians who have already died because they continue to tribute and influence Christians today. I have added a word search ( with answer sheet) to his notes.