St Willibrord was a Northumbrian brought up at St Wilfried’s monastery at Ripon and was trained further in an Irish monastery. From there he was sent with twelve monks to evangelise in Frisia home to pagan north Germanic tribes at the request of the Pepin King of the Franks. He was consecrated Bishop of the Frisians in Rome. He built a monastery and cathedral in Utrecht as a base for his work. He built another monastery at Echternach. The pagan king of the Frisians retook control and burnt the churches and killed the missionaries. St Willibrord however was able to return and carry the work forward. He was buried at Echternach where his tomb can still be seen.
