Crediton

Crediton is a lively market town with an unusually magnificent church and a famous saint. It was once a wealthy woollen town, but even more important was its rich spiritual heritage, for St. Boniface was born here in 680 AD.

One of the founding fathers of the Christian church in Europe, Boniface is the patron saint of Germany and The Netherlands, and many pilgrims visit the National Shrine of Saint Boniface at the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Boniface in Crediton. The whole town is filled with references to him, and these include a large wooden sculpture and a commemorative window in the Parish Church, a statue, and a well.

The Parish Church of the Holy Cross stands on the site of Devon's first Saxon cathedral (909 - 1050 AD) for Crediton was originally the first Bishopric of Devon. The current imposing red sandstone building dating mainly from the 15th century looks rather like a scaled down cathedral, and its treasures include a fine organ, and splendid monuments like Sir John de Sully's tomb, and the grandiose memorial to Sir Redvers Buller.

Crediton contains many local independent retailers, a refreshing antidote to High Street chains, and there is also a thriving farmers' market.

Visit the Tourist Information Point in the Crediton Book Shop for information about Crediton:

The Book Shop
100 High Street
Crediton
EX17 3LF
Tel: 01363 774740
www.creditonbookshop.co.uk