Saints

St Dympna Martyr. Possibly seventh century. Patron of the mentally ill. Few facts are known about this ancient saint but her memory has been very influential. According to legend, she was the daughter of a British or Celtic king. When his wife died, he developed an incestuous attraction for Dympna. In an effort to escape his attentions, she fled with her confessor St Gerebernus, to Antwerp, and... Read More

St Matthias Apostle. Matthias was chosen by the apostles, to fill the place left vacant by Judas Iscariot. He was with them at Pentecost. According to legend he preached in Judea and then Cappadocia and near the Caspian Sea. Tradition also links him with Ethiopia. His history is sometimes confused with that of Matthew and Andrew. It is claimed that St Matthias the Apostle's remains are interred... Read More

St Simon Stock Carmelite friar. According to tradition, Simon Stock was born somewhere in Kent, possibly the village of Stockbury, and lived in Aylesford. The surname 'Stock' appears in some documents but not in others, and is related to a story that the Saint lived for a time in a hollow tree ('stock' meant tree trunk) before the arrival of the Carmelites in England. Little is known of his earl... Read More