OUR PATRON SAINT -
SAINT EDMUND, KING AND MARTYR
Born around AD 841 of Saxon stock, Edmund was brought up as a Christian and became King of the East Angles whilst still a youth in 865. He was a holy Christian Monarch, serving his people with pastoral care. And is best remembered for bravely trying to resist a Danish (Viking) invasion 869-70, but was defeated at the battle of Hoxne (near Diss, Norfolk) and taken prisoner. He refused to renounce the Christian faith and serve as a puppet king, so was tied to a tree and shot to death with arrows, hence the symbol associated with St. Edmund, the crown and arrows.
Originally buried near the site of his death, in c903 his remains were translated to the local administrative town of Beodricsworth and were there enshrined. A large Benedictine Abbey grew up around St Edmund’s Shrine, and the town became known as St Edmund’s Bury – Bury St Edmund’s.