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English saints Trivia Quiz

Although regarded as a religious backwater in ancient times, England has produced a few memorable saints. See how many you know.

A multiple-choice quiz by mikew41. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
mikew41

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
302,578

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
586

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Saint Boniface was born in Devon around 672AD. His feast day is June 5 and he wrote the first Latin grammar produced in England. He was murdered while trying to convert the Frisians in 754. Of what is he the patron saint? Hint

Bakers

Germany

Locksmiths

Clocks

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Question 2 of 10

2. This saint was born around 639AD and was the first Abbot of Malmesbury. He is credited with installing the first church organ in England and is a patron saint of musicians amongst others. Can you name this man whose feast day is May 25? Hint

Maildulf

Wulfram

Aldhelm

Edburga

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Question 3 of 10

3. This man was the 25th Archbishop of Canterbury, but during the reign of Eadwig he had to spend time as an exile in Flanders. His fortunes were restored under the rule of Eadgar and he is patron saint of lighthouse keepers among others. Who is he? Hint

Alban

Harald Harefoot

Eowyn of Chichester

Dunstan

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Question 4 of 10

4. Saint Alban was the first English saint and martyr. He was a pagan who converted to Christianity and was beheaded during the persecutions of Septimus Severus around 209AD. What unusual thing happened to his executioner when he chopped Alban's head off? Hint

His horse turned blue

He had an attack of boils

His house burnt down

His eyes fell out

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Question 5 of 10

5. Next we have a girl who was an assistant to Saint Boniface in his travels around Europe. She was canonized in 870 by Pope Adrian II. Her feast day is celebrated by bonfires on April 30th and she is patron saint of rabies amongst other causes. Who is she? Hint

Aselbod

Rosamund

Walpurgis

Winibald

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Question 6 of 10

6. Saint Osmond was actually a French nobleman and came to England with his Uncle William in 1066. After a remarkably chaste but successful life he was canonized in 1457. What, amongst other things, is Saint Osmond a patron of? Hint

Windows

Badgers

Toothache

Oats

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Question 7 of 10

7. Although better known for other things, this man is the patron saint of engineers. He was born around 387AD in Roman Britain and kidnapped into slavery when he was sixteen. Who is he? Hint

Saint Andrew

Saint Alban

Saint David

Saint Patrick

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Question 8 of 10

8. Saint George has been Patron Saint of England since 1348, but who was his predecessor in that role? Hint

Saint Aethelwold

Saint Edward the Confessor

Saint Wulfstan

Saint Benedict of Winchester

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Question 9 of 10

9. This man was a Benedictine monk at the monastery of St Peter in modern day Sunderland. He wrote "Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum" and is known as the Father of English History. He is also the only English Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church. Who is he? Hint

Saint Bede the Venerable

Saint Thomas More

Saint Columba

Pope Adrian IV

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Question 10 of 10

10. The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales are a group of Catholic martyrs who died without recanting their faith between 1535 and 1679. They were canonized on 25th October 1970 by which Pope? Hint

Urban XX

John XXIII

John Paul I

Paul VI

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Germany

Born and raised as Winfrid, he went to Rome in 718 and was commissioned by Pope Gregory II to become a missionary in Germany. He converted many and was eventually elevated to archbishop. He famously chopped down the Tree of Thor and, when Thor did not strike him dead, thousands of Saxons converted to Christianity.

Answer: Aldhelm

Aldhelm died at Doulting in 709 and is buried at Malmesbury Abbey. It is said that once when church attendances were low, he stood and preached a sermon for so long that his staff took root and grew leaves.

Answer: Dunstan

Dunstan was initially reluctant to follow the celibate life of a monk, but he had a sudden attack of boils, which he took as a sign from God. It was more likely the result of being thrown into a cesspool but nonetheless Dunstan took his vows and rose to the highest rank of clergy in the country.

Answer: His eyes fell out

Yes, the Venerable Bede documents this happening after the first executioner had converted to Christianity on the way to the execution. A second man was found to carry out the deed and the reluctant first executioner was then beheaded, becoming the second English martyr. After both executions, the poor chap's eyes fell out of his head, apparently.

Answer: Walpurgis

Walpurgis or Walburga gave her name to Walpurgis Night, which is a spring festival celebrated by Pagans, Christians and Satanists on April 30th. It was said that witches could roam free until dawn and the divide between the realms of the living and the dead was blurred on that night, so bonfires were lit to keep the spirits of the dead away from the living.

Answer: Toothache

He was responsible for building a huge cathedral at Old Sarem which was consecrated on 5th April 1092, but unfortunately was destroyed in a thunderstorm only 5 days later.

7. Although better known for other things, this man is the patron saint of engineers. He was born around 387AD in Roman Britain and kidnapped into slavery when he was sixteen. Who is he?

Answer: Saint Patrick

Little is known of the life of Saint Patrick. He was captured at sixteen and spent six years as a slave before escaping to mainland Europe where he entered the church. Contrary to popular belief, he had nothing to do with driving snakes out of Ireland. Snakes were not found on Ireland after the waters rose following the last ice age and cut the country off from the rest of Europe.

8. Saint George has been Patron Saint of England since 1348, but who was his predecessor in that role?

Answer: Saint Edward the Confessor

Edward the Confessor spent much of his youth in France to escape the Danish rule of England. He returned in 1041 and became king after the death of Harthacanute a year later. His rule was mostly peaceful but his death split the kingdom as he had seemingly named both William of Normandy and Harold Godwinson as his successor.

The row came to a head at Hastings in October 1066 and the rest, as they say, is history.

Answer: Saint Bede the Venerable

It is amazing to think that Bede had access to one of the largest libraries in the world at that time, which contained about 500 books. Think how many books a small branch library contains today and you can see why the Dark Ages were just that.

10. The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales are a group of Catholic martyrs who died without recanting their faith between 1535 and 1679. They were canonized on 25th October 1970 by which Pope?

Answer: Paul VI

The centuries following Henry VIII's split with Rome were turbulent times for Catholics in England. Many were forced to recant their religion, convert to Protestantism or have their lands and properties seized. All the Forty Martyrs were priests who died for their religion, many on trumped up charges of sedition and treason.

Source: Author mikew41

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
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