Hundreds of people of all ages in Oundle are getting set to mark the 1300^th anniversary of the death of St Wilfrid who founded the church in the town.

A weekend of activities starts on Friday 9^th October 2009 when a huge celebration feast will be staged at St Peter’s under the watchful eye of Wilfrid himself whose image will be projected onto a screen overlooking the banquet.

Wilfrid died at Oundle in 709 and his body was carted north to Ripon where he was buried. Alongside Cuthbert, Wilfrid was one of the leading figures in British 8^th century Christianity.

 A children’s craft workshop, a “food crawl” for teenagers, a Question Time event in church and a theatre production by the Saltmine Theatre Company will also take place over the course of the weekend.

On Sunday 11^th, the church is expected to be packed for the culmination of the celebration with the morning service at which the Assistant Bishop of Peterborough Rt Reverend John Flack will preach. Even Bishop John’s dog is named Wilfrid!  Bill Taylor and David Wills will join the service at the end of a two-week, 150-mile pilgrimage from Ripon to Oundle. The total distance they covered is the same as their combined ages!

 The weekend finishes at 7am on St Wilfrid’s Day (Monday 12^th October) when there will be a special early morning service of Holy Communion in church followed by a glass of champagne.

 “What a wonderful excuse to bring together the people of Oundle”, declared Oundle’s vicar Canon Richard Ormston. “We continue to bear witness to Jesus, just as Wilfrid did all those years ago and we can celebrate that in style”, he added.

 For further information please contact the Parish Office at St Peter’s Church, Oundle. Tel: 01832 275675. E-mail: stpetersoundle@yahoo.co.uk