Eadburh of Bicester facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Eadburh of Bicester
Shrine of St Edburh in St. Michael's parish church, salvaged from Bicester Priory
Born	7th century Quarrendon
Died	unknown
Venerated in	Catholicism Anglican Communion
Major shrine	Stanton Harcourt
Feast	18 July

Eadburh of Bicester (also known as Eadburth or Edburg) was an English nun and saint who lived in the 7th century. She was also an abbess, which is the head of a community of nuns. Her exact story is a bit of a mystery. This is because several Saxon saints had the same name. It can be hard to know which one was Eadburh of Bicester.

Who Was Saint Eadburh?

It is believed that Eadburh of Bicester was the daughter of King Penda of Mercia. King Penda was not a Christian, but many of his children were. Eadburh was born in a place called Quarrendon.

Her Family and Life as a Nun

Eadburh had a sister named Edith (or Eadith). Together, they started a religious community, or abbey, near Aylesburg. Eadburh likely became the abbess there. This meant she was in charge of the nuns. She also helped train her niece, Osgyth, in religious life. There are old stories that say Eadburh and Edith found Osgyth after she had drowned. The legends claim they saw her come back to life after three days.

Eadburh might have lived in a place called Adderbury. This town is about 30 miles from Aylesbury. Some people think Adderbury might even be named after her. Eadburh died around the year 650. No one knows exactly where she was buried.

Her Shrine and Legacy

Around the year 850, a simple Saxon church was built in Bicester. Much later, in 1182, Eadburh's holy remains, called relics, were moved to Bicester. This happened when a new Augustinian priory was built there. A priory is a type of monastery. It was dedicated to Saint Eadburh and to the Virgin Mary.

Many people, called pilgrims, would visit Eadburh's shrine at the priory. They also visited a holy well nearby. During a time called the Reformation in 1536, many religious buildings were destroyed. Sir Simon Harcourt, a local official, destroyed the Bicester Priory church. However, he saved Eadburh's shrine. He moved it to Saint Michael's Church in Stanton Harcourt. He wanted it to be used as a special place for Easter. Other parts of the shrine were made into a tomb in the Harcourt family chapel.

In the late 1940s, some people tried to move the shrine back to Bicester. But they were not successful. Saint Eadburh's special day, called her feast day, is celebrated on 18 July.