St. Winifred

Saint Winifred

Saint Winifred, whose actual name was Gwenfrewi, was a seventh-century Welsh nun. According to legend, she was the only child of noble parents; and was taught by the monk St. Beuno. Winifred decided to become a nun. But, one Sunday, alone at home, Winifred was the victim of attempted rape by Prince Caradog. Escaping, Winifred fled towards St. Beuno's church; but Prince Caradog caught her on the hillside, and cut off her head. St. Beuno cursed the unrepentant Caradog, who melted away. Then he replaced Winifred's head, prayed over her - and the girl was restored to life. She became a nun, and became Abbess of Gwytherin and died there fifteen years after her miraculous restoration to life., Her grave there was a place of pilgrimage until her body was taken to Shrewsbury in 1138.

Hollywell did not forget its saint. Where her head fell, legend says, a spring of healing water broke forth. Here, after her resurrection, Winifred sat with Beuno on the stone still called by his name. Here he told her that anyone seeking help through her prayers at that spot would find it. And from that day to this, people have visited St Winifred's holy well on pilgrimage.

Winifred is more than a legend. Her 'Life' was not recorded until the twelfth century; but earlier evidence to the central core of truth in the legend has survived, in material unknown to the medieval authors. Winifred was related to the Powysian royal family. St. Beuno was actually her uncle; and St Tenoi, whom she succeeded as abbess at Gwytherin, her great-aunt. These familial relationships place Winifred firmly within the Welsh historical tradition. Most revealingly, she had a brother Owain, who killed Caradog in revenge: indicating that, whatever the exact truth of her death-and-resurrection legend, it does have a basis in historical fact.

And recently a fragment of an eighth-century reliquary from Gwytherin, the Arch Gwenfrewi (Winifred's Casket), was found, witnessing her status as a recognised saint almost from the moment of her death, c.650 - the earliest such surviving evidence for any Welsh saint.

Her feast day is November 3rd

Meaning of her name: friend of peace (celtic/gaelic)

Patron saint of: Incest victims; martyrs; Shrewsbury, England

Lived from: 600A.D. to 655 A.D.

Born in: Hollywell, Wales

This is her reading from Old Sarum Rite Missal

Virgo Vernans
Sequentia for Saint Winifred

A virgin flourishing as the rose,
The comely bride of Him Who is the Lamb,
As the precious martyr of Christ,
Hath Winifred richly blossomed.

Sprung from the stock of Britons,
Unshakable in faith, joyful in hope,
Holy in deeds, and pure of mind,
She was free of this world's deceptions.

This virgin was slain by Caradoc,
And immediately the pit of Orcus hell swallowed him up.
For that is the place for the wicked,
And there with Satan he is burning.

In demonstrating proof of this happening,
A fountain welleth up at the bidding of God,
In the likeness of crimson reddening,
Where she was deprived of her head.

There many miracles are performed;
The blind see, and the dumb are given speech,
All manner of disease is put to flight,
When those who ask have faith.

O Winifred, our glorious lady,
Calm for us the billows of the sea,
Lest we become the ready prey of the enemy,
O compassionate one, afford us thy protection. Amen.