He wasn’t exactly a local boy, to be frank, but today the Church of England commemorates Birinus, first Bishop of Dorchester. Today there is still a Bishop of Dorchester (+Colin Fletcher) and the associated abbey at Dorchester-on-Thames is well worth a visit.

The Church of England lectionary is scattered with all sorts of saints and heroes of the faith and I often have to look them up but there is a small frisson of delight when I spot a name I know, especially when associated with a place nearby.