By Sue Read

SUPPORT in principle has been given by Crediton Town Council to put St Boniface more into the life of the town.

St Boniface is described by some as the greatest Englishman. Born in Crediton more than 1,500 years ago, he became Patron Saint of Germania (the Roman term for the geographical region in north-central Europe inhabited mainly by Germanic peoples) and England.

It has also been said that St Boniface had more influence on the history of Europe than anyone and that modern Europe was founded by him.

His story is a fascinating one. His letters still pertinent. He was buried in the Cathedral at Fulda, Germany.

Spreading this story is a major part of what Crediton Town Council could support. At a recent meeting, Rod Brookes-Hocking, outlined the plans of Crediton Town Team.

This was the group who had been behind the bi-annual Crediton Festival. In 2014 it was asked by Mid Devon District Council if it would extend its work to include community regeneration projects and so it grew into the organisation it is today.

It now promotes sports events, theatre, live music, food, writing competitions, dog shows and more.

Over the past year it has been working on 12 projects which include this year’s festival, weather protection for the town square, more High Street flags, the Crediton History Trail, new this June the Active Mums project to gently tone mums back into shape.

This is linked with Active Devon and there are more than 40 mums in the group with cycling being a part of the activities. They can use bikes with a trailer to take a child.

The flag project had begun with 68 flags being made for the High Street. This year there were 80 with a waiting list for more next year. Mr Brookes-Hocking said this was developing the idea of light through colour.

And then there was the story of St Boniface. Mr Brookes-Hocking told the town council that the Team had been looking at what Crediton had that other towns did not and - as well as Sandford Orchards cider, Red Ruby Beef and Quicke’s Cheese - there was St Boniface.

The story of St Boniface is told in the eight stained glass windows of the parish church. Mr Brookes-Hocking said eight “stained glass” banners were designed which have been used together to tell the Boniface story.

The Town Team had been wondering how to extend this, maybe putting the panels in various parts of the town plus an interpretation board.

“We could put them in toughened glass and seal them, the banners could be free-standing. Suddenly it became viable,” said Mr Brookes-Hocking. “But we have no money as yet.”

The eight possible places for the banners and a board would be such as Tolleys, the area where Boniface was said to have been born, the Roman Catholic Church on Park Street which is the National Shrine of St Boniface, Newcombes Meadow by the St Boniface statue, in the area of the parish church.

These could be linked with “Da Vinci like” clues. An outline application has been made for LEADER funding, This is part of the Rural Development Programme for England and could mean around £10,000 being made available, so long as there was match funding.

The Town Team was looking at a minimum £12,000 budget. Its outline application to the LEADER fund has been approved, it is now preparing for a full application.

The town council has given its support in principle for the plan.

CHERRY TREE TO BE REPLACED

Some years ago a previous Mayor of Crediton had donated a cherry tree planted on the grass patch on Exhibition Corner.

That tree died and was removed. Crediton Town Council heard that there had been regular requests for the tree to be replaced.

Members agreed to buy another cherry (prunus amanogawa) at a cost of £27 (inc vat). The tree would be about three metres tall.

As the town council does not currently own a Red Ensign flag, it was agreed to buy one at a cost of up to £50 to be able to fly the Ensign on Merchant Navy Day in September.