Swithun


Swithun
Portrait of St Swithun in the Benedictional of St Æthelwold, c. 970s
Bishop of Winchester
Bornc. 800
possibly Hampshire
Died(863-07-02)2 July 863
Winchester, Hampshire
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Anglican Communion
Eastern Orthodox Church
Major shrineWinchester Cathedral. Parts survive in cathedral museum. Also modern replacement shrine.
Feast2 July (Norway)
15 July (England)
AttributesBishop, holding a bridge, broken eggs at his feet
PatronageHampshire; 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.