Wantage celebrates King Alfred with festival and procession
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 16:31 · Archive
Wantage has held its annual Alfredfest, honouring King Alfred the Great, who was born in the Oxfordshire town.
Wantage has held its annual Alfredfest celebration honouring King Alfred the Great, the only English king with that title, who was born in the town. King Alfred was King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886 and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until 899, with his reign experiencing numerous Viking invasions. In 878, he won a decisive victory against the Vikings at the Battle of Edington.
This year's festival took place over Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October in and around Wantage Parish Church. Saturday featured a children's music workshop at the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, while Sunday included a service commemorating Alfred. The service ended with a procession to Alfred's statue in the Market Place, where prayers were said for the town and in thanks for Alfred's revival of education and literacy in the nation.
The vicar of the church, Katherine Price, said: 'This has been a wonderful and wide-ranging weekend, celebrating a great Christian leader and son of Wantage.' Over recent years, Wantage has honoured one of its most famous sons through the annual festival.
How it is being reported
- Oxfordshire town celebrates King Alfred the Great in special festivalKing Alfred the Great, who was born in Oxfordshire, has been celebrated in a town with a procession to his statue and extracts from a new opera.Oxfordshire Guardian · 26 Oct, 16:00
- Oxfordshire town celebrates King Alfred the Great in special festivalKing Alfred the Great, who was born in Oxfordshire, has been celebrated in a town with a procession to his statue and extracts from a new opera.Oxford Mail · 26 Oct, 16:00
In this story: King Alfred the Great · Wantage · Oxfordshire · Battle of Edington · Katherine Price
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