December 30

Saint Egwin of Worcester

Roman Martyrology

Bishop of Worcester who founded the abbey of Evesham in Anglo-Saxon England

Egwin was bishop of Worcester, in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, from about 693 until his death in 717. Later tradition says he came from a noble Mercian family. His lasting work was a monastery at Evesham, beside the River Avon, founded in the early 700s with the support of Mercian kings. It grew into one of the great abbeys of medieval England.

A Life written nearly three centuries later says Egwin preached so firmly about marriage and honest living that some turned against him and denounced him to Rome. According to the legend, he set out for Rome with iron fetters locked on his feet and threw the key into the Avon; the key was later found inside a fish, and the Pope cleared his name.

Egwin was buried at Evesham, where the monks kept his memory for centuries. He is remembered as a bishop who planted a lasting community of prayer and would not soften his teaching to escape trouble.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Matthew 5:10–11 · BSB

A prayer

Faithful God, you called your servant Egwin to shepherd your people and to found a home of prayer that lasted for generations. Give us the courage to speak the truth with love, patience when we are misunderstood, and the wisdom to build what will serve others long after us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.