Juthwara facts for kids

Juthwara (also spelled Jutwara) was a young woman from Dorset, England, who lived many centuries ago. She is remembered as a virgin and a martyr, meaning she was killed for her strong Christian beliefs. Some historians believe she lived in the 8th century, while others think she was a Briton from the 6th century. She is also thought to be the sister of Saint Sidwell.

Juthwara's name comes from the Anglo-Saxon language. In Brittany, a region in France, she is known as Aud Wyry. This name means "Aud the Virgin." It is likely that Aud Wyry is a Breton way of saying her original name.

The Legend of Juthwara

The story of Juthwara comes from old writings, including one by John Capgrave called Nova Legenda Angliae. According to this legend, Juthwara was a very religious girl. She prayed often, fasted, and gave money to those in need.

After her father passed away, Juthwara became ill with chest pain. Her stepmother was jealous of her goodness. The stepmother told her son, Bana, that Juthwara was pregnant. Bana, believing his mother's lie, became angry. He then killed Juthwara by cutting off her head.

Right where Juthwara died, a spring of water appeared. The legend says that Juthwara then miraculously picked up her own head. She carried it back to the church. In the Breton version of the story, Bana felt very sorry for what he had done. He became a monk and started a monastery.

Where Juthwara Lived

Juthwara's death is believed to have happened in a place called Halyngstoka. Today, this place is known as Halstock in Dorset. Local stories in Halstock still talk about her, and there is even a field called 'Judith' after her.

In July 2012, the local church in Halstock, St Mary, added Juthwara to its dedication. This was done to honor the long-standing local tradition about her.

Honoring Saint Juthwara

Juthwara's feast day is celebrated on November 28th. Some old calendars also mention July 13th or December 23rd.

Juthwara's body was moved to Sherborne Abbey in the early 11th century. Her shrine there became a popular place for pilgrimage until the 16th century. The Sherborne Missal, a special book from around 1400, includes a Mass for Saint Juthwara on July 13th. This book also has a picture showing Juthwara's beheading.

You can see Juthwara depicted in the Great East Window of Sherborne Abbey. She also appears on several altar screens in Devon, often with her sister Sidwell. Her symbols are usually a round soft cheese or a sword. In a statue from Guizeny, in Brittany, she is shown as a cephalophore, which means she is carrying her own head.