June 17th - Feast of St. Botolph

Botwulf of Thorney aka St. Botolph was an English abbot who became the patron saint of travelers and farmers.  His feast day is celebrated on June 17th in England.  He was born ca. 610.  Botolph and his brother Adulf became monks and went to Germany to study.  His brother became a bishop while Botolph returned to England  to run a nunnery.  According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Botwulf built a church at Iken in Suffolk ca. 653.  In the Life of St. Ceolfrith he is described as "a man of remarkable life and learning, full of the grace of the Holy Spirit.  He died ca. 680 and is said to be buried in the foundation of the church in Iken.  His remains were moved first to Burgh in 970 and then to Bury St. Edmunds ca. 1020.  Later still Botolph was moved with his brother Adulf to Thorney Abbey except for his head which is at Ely Cathedral.  Many churches in East Anglia were dedicated to him to the extent that when the Puritans removed to New England they named a city Botwulf's Town / Botolphston which was contracted to Boston and he is considered to be the city's patron saint.