Egwin of Evesham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Egwin OSB
Scenes from the life of Saint Egwin, St Lawrence's Church, Evesham
Bishop of Worcester Founder of Evesham
Born	7th century Worcester, Mercia
Died	30 December 717 Evesham Abbey, Mercia
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church
Major shrine	Evesham Abbey
Feast	30 December
Attributes	bishop holding a fish and a key

Saint Egwin of Evesham (died 30 December 717) was a Benedictine monk. He later became the third Bishop of Worcester in England. He is famous for founding Evesham Abbey.

Who Was Saint Egwin?

Egwin was born in Worcester during the 7th century. His family was noble, and he was even related to the kings of Mercia, an old Anglo-Saxon kingdom. Some people think he might have been the nephew of King Æthelred of Mercia.

Egwin became a monk. People liked him so much that they wanted him to become a bishop. A bishop is a high-ranking leader in the Christian church. He became a bishop after the year 693.

Egwin as a Bishop

As a bishop, Egwin was known for being fair. He helped people who needed it, like orphans and widows. He also tried to teach people about Christian rules for life, especially about marriage.

However, some people found Egwin's rules too strict. This caused problems, and some people complained about him. Because King Æthelred was his friend, these complaints eventually reached other church leaders.

The Journey to Rome

To clear his name, Egwin decided to go on a pilgrimage to Rome. He wanted to speak to the pope himself. Before he left, a legend says he put heavy chains on his feet. He then threw the key into the River Avon. This showed how serious he was about his journey and his faith.

A Miracle in the Alps

On his way to Rome, Egwin and his friends traveled through the Alps mountains. They became very thirsty. Some people in the group doubted Egwin. They jokingly asked him to pray for water, like Moses did in the desert. But others truly believed in him and asked with hope.

Egwin knelt down and prayed. When he stood up, a clear stream of water suddenly flowed out of a rock! This showed his companions that God was with him.

The Key in the Fish

When Egwin finally reached Rome, he prayed at the tomb of the Apostles. While he was there, something amazing happened. One of his servants brought him a fish that had just been caught in the Tiber River. Inside the fish's mouth was the very key Egwin had thrown into the River Avon!

Egwin then used the key to unlock his chains. After this, he met the pope. The pope believed Egwin and cleared his name from all the complaints.

Founding Evesham Abbey

When Egwin returned to England, he founded Evesham Abbey. This abbey became one of the most important Benedictine monasteries in medieval England. He dedicated it to the Virgin Mary.

The story goes that the Virgin Mary herself appeared to a swineherd (a person who looks after pigs) named Eof. She showed him the exact spot where a church should be built in her honor. This is how the abbey got its name, Evesham, meaning "Eof's ham" or "Eof's home."

Later Life and Legacy

One of Egwin's last important acts was taking part in a big meeting called the Council of Clovesho. He died at the abbey he had founded on 30 December 717. His body was buried there.

Later, monks wrote stories about his life. These stories are called hagiographies. Sadly, Egwin's tomb and the abbey church were destroyed in 1540 when many monasteries in England were closed down.