A GROUP of German pilgrims visited Crediton on Wednesday, April 29.

They called into Crediton Parish Church and then to St Boniface Roman Catholic Church for Mass.

The visitors wanted to see and to learn more about the place where their national saint, Boniface was born.

The group of 28 came from two parishes near Fulda in Germany, where St Boniface is buried.

Whilst in England they went to visit Nursling, near Southampton, where Boniface was a Benedictine monk and later Abbot.

Aged about 40 he went to Rome and was directed by the Pope to minister to the pagans in Northern Germany.

Mass was said in a mix of English and German.

The pilgrims sang two hymns with the first two verses in German and the third in English so parishioners could join in.

Father Michael Wheaton, the parish priest, commented: “The singing was wonderful to hear. I wish it sounded so good here every week!”

After tea and cake and an opportunity to chat to parishioners, the group set off again on the next stage of their pilgrimage.

• Crediton-born Winfrith, who became Saint Boniface, is the Patron Saint of Devon following a vote by Devon County Council in 2019.

He is also Patron Saint of Crediton, following approval by Crediton Town Council some years prior to that.

Devon's most famous native-born saint, Boniface grew to become a major figure in the Roman Catholic Church and continues to be celebrated today as the “Apostle to the Germans” and the first archbishop of Mainz.

This included the symbolic felling of Thor’s Oak, which converted many pagans to Christianity, and his recognition as the creator of the first ever Christmas tree.

The National Shrine to Crediton's most famous son is in the Roman Catholic Church in Park Road, Crediton.