Saint Aldhelm, Patron Saint of Frome

St. Aldhelm was also a gifted musician. He played the lute and sang beautifully. Wherever he travelled he carried his lute. One day he walked from his monastery at Malmesbury and was near where Frome now stands. He was tired and sat on a fallen tree to rest and think how best to put his ideas into practice. The more he thought about building a church in the middle of the forest the more difficult it seemed. To raise his spirits he played on his lute and then began to sing.

The robbers knew he was there and thought, at first, that it was a trap to capture them. They hid behind the trees and listened. The robbers became enchanted by his singing and came out from hiding and sat and listened to his playing and singing. After a while St. Aldhelm stopped singing and began to tell those around him about Jesus. He spoke of Jesus coming as a baby, growing up, gathering disciples around him and teaching the people about God. He went on to tell them that because the priests were frightened of Jesus they had Him put to death.

Saint Aldhelm became the first Bishop of Sherborne, and was well-known as a clever and kindly man.

One Sunday he noticed that the people were not going to church. Dressed as a minstrel, he stood on a busy bridge playing and singing popular songs until a large crowd gathered around him. He then started singing about Jesus, until the people were challenged and decided they should go to church regularly.

Saint Aldhelm died on 25th May 709, and is remembered on that date each year.

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Go to "Catholic Online Saints" website for more information about St. Aldhelm, and other saints.