Swithun
Swithun | |
|---|---|
Portrait of St Swithun in the Benedictional of St Æthelwold, c. 970s | |
| Bishop of Winchester | |
| Born | c. 800 possibly Hampshire |
| Died | 2 July 863 Winchester, Hampshire |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Anglican Communion Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Major shrine | Winchester Cathedral. Parts survive in cathedral museum. Also modern replacement shrine. |
| Feast | 2 July (Norway) 15 July (England) |
| Attributes | Bishop, holding a bridge, broken eggs at his feet |
| Patronage | Hampshire; Winchester; Southwark; the weather |
Swithun (or Swithin; Old English: Swīþhūn; Latin: Swithunus; died 863) was an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester and subsequently patron saint of Winchester Cathedral. His historical importance as bishop is overshadowed by his reputation for posthumous miracle-working. According to tradition, if it rains on Saint Swithun's bridge (Winchester) on his feast day (15 July) it will continue for forty days.