St Frideswide Oxford’s Foundress

Saint Frideswide is regarded as the foundress and patron saint of Oxford. Living in the eighth century, she was an Anglo-Saxon princess who chose a religious life over marriage. Frideswide founded a convent in Oxford, which later developed into a major religious center. Her shrine became an important place of pilgrimage during the Middle Ages, attracting worshippers from across England. The convent she established eventually evolved into Christ Church Cathedral, linking her legacy closely to the city’s spiritual history. Saint Frideswide is remembered for her piety, independence, and lasting influence on Oxford’s religious and cultural identity.