Alfred 			October 26
King of the West Saxons
Throughout the ninth century the Danes were a constant threat to the people of Britain. The raiders dominated the north and east of the country by the middle of the century, and made periodic incursions into the south and west. When Alfred was born at Wantage in 849, there was a real risk of a total Danish conquest of the English kingdoms.
When Alfred inherited the throne of Wessex in 871 he was only 22. From then until the battle of Edington in 878, Alfred was almost completely occupied with the defence of his kingdom. His defeat of the Danes at Edington brought more settled conditions, which, apart from some further unsuccessful Danish incursions in the 890s, were to last for some years. Following the depredations of the war years, Alfred set about rebuilding his kingdom. That many of the Danes who had settled in England were converted to Christianity was an unexpected bonus. Alfred persuaded Guthrum, whom he defeated at Edington, to accept baptism. 
Alfred was determined to reconstruct the learning and scholarship that had been lost, and to that end brought in the best foreign scholars he could find from neighbouring kingdoms and the continent. Alfred, having been well-educated himself, took a leading part in this intellectual revival, looking not only to his clergy but his leading laymen as well. The king’s scheme included the translation of various classic works into the vernacular, a task that he assisted with himself. At the end of his last work he wrote:
“He is a very foolish man, who will not increase his understanding while he is still in this world, and long to reach that endless life where all shall be made clear.”
Alfred was also a very devout king. He attended mass daily and observed the canonical hours. He devoted half his income and half his time to the service of religion. The money for the church was given to the poor, to religious foundations and the re-establishment of monasteries, to the court school, and to various churches. Alfred clearly saw the church as the servant of the people. A legal code Alfred produced was to be interpreted in a Christian spirit of compassion, and the code itself recognised the place of the church in society.
Alfred died in 899 and was buried in the Old Minster, Winchester. Because of his courage and his Christian virtues, he has been called “the Great”, the only English monarch to be given that title.
For Liturgical Use
Alfred, usually referred to as Alfred the Great, was born in 849 and became king of Wessex in 871. He effectively ended the threat of Danish domination of England. After the wars he set about rebuilding his kingdom and reforming the church. Alfred gave to his people the Gospels in the Saxon language. He is remembered as a king who worked his hardest to encourage education for his clergy and his nobles. He gave them an example in the pattern of his own life as a Christian king. He died in 899.
Sentence
You Lord will become king over all the earth; on that day you will be the only Lord and your name the only name.		Zechariah 14:9 (adapted)
Collects
Almighty and eternal God,
through your servant Alfred
you established peace 
and revived the skills of learning;
give us a thirst for understanding
and a commitment 
to your commonwealth of love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God of time and change,
may we who honour Alfred,
perfect Christian monarch of a thousand years ago,
discover the perfection you now demand.
Psalms	21	48
Readings
Wisdom 6:1-3,9-11		Advice for rulers
1 John 2:15-17		Detachment from the world
Luke 6:43-49		Producing good fruit
Post Communion Sentence 
Jesus said, “Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.”		Luke 12:2