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St. Wilfrid's Day Parade, Ripon

This video captures the vibrant and ancient tradition of the St. Wilfrid's Day Parade in Ripon, a celebration that brings the city's rich history to life. The procession is a colourful carnival-like event, featuring everything from decorated floats and marching bands to Morris dancers and community groups.

The parade is one of Ripon's most cherished annual events and has its roots in a royal charter granted by King Henry I in 1108. This charter gave Ripon the right to hold an annual feast or fair to commemorate St. Wilfrid, a key figure in the history of both the city and the early English church. The procession as we know it today, with its brightly decorated lorries and festive atmosphere, has evolved over centuries, with the modern carnival style rumoured to have developed since the 1950s.

Leading the procession is a central figure on horseback, an actor portraying St. Wilfrid himself, often accompanied by monks. This tradition harks back to the origins of the parade and serves as a powerful reminder of the man at the heart of the celebration.

Who was St. Wilfrid?

St. Wilfrid was a powerful and influential figure in 7th-century Britain. Born into a noble Northumbrian family around 633 AD, he became a monk and a missionary, playing a pivotal role in aligning the English church with the customs and authority of Rome. His most famous achievement was his eloquent and persuasive advocacy for the Roman method of calculating the date of Easter at the Synod of Whitby in 664 AD.

St. Wilfrid's Connection with Ripon

Wilfrid's connection to Ripon is profound and lasting. He was given a monastery in the city by King Alhfrith, and in 672 AD, he founded a new stone church on the site where Ripon Cathedral stands today. While the cathedral has been rebuilt over the centuries, the original Saxon crypt of Wilfrid's church survives and is one of the oldest church buildings still in use in England.

After a tumultuous life marked by conflicts with kings, periods of exile, and missionary work across Europe, St. Wilfrid died in 709 or 710 AD. His body was brought back to Ripon, where he was buried and venerated as a saint. His shrine was located near the high altar in Ripon Cathedral, making the city an important pilgrimage destination. The annual parade, celebrating his life, work, and return, is a continuation of this centuries-old reverence for the city's patron saint.