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St. Winifred of Wales
Saint Winifred (also called Winefride) was a Welsh saint from the 600s. She is known as a virgin martyr, meaning she was a young woman who died for her Christian faith. Her story became very popular in England in the 1100s.
A special healing spring is found where her story says she was hurt. This place is now a shrine and a site for pilgrimage called St Winefride's Well. It is in Holywell, Flintshire, Wales. Many people call it "the Lourdes of Wales" because of its healing reputation.
The oldest written stories about Winifred are from the 1100s. Legend says Winifred was the daughter of a Welsh nobleman named Tyfid ap Eiludd. Her mother, Wenlo, was the sister of Saint Beuno. Her family was connected to the kings of south Wales.
According to the legend, a man named Caradog wanted to marry Winifred. When she decided to become a nun instead, he became very angry. He then cut off her head. A healing spring appeared right where her head fell.
Saint Beuno, her uncle, helped to put Winifred's head back on her body. She was brought back to life! Beuno saw Caradog standing there, looking defiant. Beuno asked for God's punishment, and Caradog fell dead. People believed the ground opened up and swallowed him.
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Before Beuno left Holywell, he sat on a stone that is still in the well pool today. He promised that anyone who prayed three times at that spot, asking God for help in Saint Winifred's name, would receive it if it was good for their soul.
After eight years at Holywell, Winifred felt called to leave the convent. She went on a journey to find a new place to live. She eventually arrived at Gwytherin, near the River Elwy. There, she became a nun and later an abbess, which is the leader of a group of nuns. Some stories even say she went on a pilgrimage to Rome.
Because the first written stories of Winifred are from the 1100s, some people in the 1800s wondered if she was a real person. However, there is evidence that people honored her long before these stories were written.
In 1991, small pieces of an oak box from the 700s were found. These pieces were identified as belonging to the Arch Gwenfrewi, which was Saint Winifred's special box for relics. This box probably held a piece of her clothing or another item connected to her, not her bones.
Historian Lynne Heidi Stumpe says this box shows that Winifred was recognized as a saint soon after her death. This means she was likely a real person. This box might even be the oldest proof of any Welsh saint being formally honored.
People began honoring Winifred as a saint in the 1100s. She is mostly honored in England, not as much in Wales. In 1138, some of Winifred's relics were moved to Shrewsbury. This was done to create a special shrine there. The Church of St. Winifred, Stainton in England is a church from the 1100s named after her.
Most of what we know about Winifred's life comes from old writings. One important story was written around 1130 by Robert, who was the prior (leader) of Shrewsbury Abbey. Robert is known for making Saint Winifred's story more famous. He moved her relics to Shrewsbury Abbey and wrote the most important story about her life.
