Winchester, Hampshire, England
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
—Bible, Ephesians 6:10
When Saint Swithun (Swithin), Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester and zealous builder and renovator of churches, died in A.D. 862, he was buried in the open—as he had adamantly instructed—between the Old Minster church and Saint Martin’s Tower. A decade later, when an attempt was made to move his remains inside the church, legend has it that the saint caused it to rain for forty days, thus prohibiting his reburial. In 1093, the saint’s relics were successfully transferred into Winchester Cathedral. Constructed of limestone that dazzles in the sunlight, this Romanesque sanctuary features soaring spires, flying buttresses, fourteen splendid church bells, and the longest nave (556 feet) of any cathedral in England.
Visit glorious Winchester Cathedral to pray for the spiritual conviction of Saint Swithun on July 15 (his feast day), throughout August when the weather is best (but the crowds are large), or at Christmas to hear the empowering chorale music.
Reflect on the “raindrops” in your life and pray for the courage, patience, and perseverance to overcome them.
A popular pilgrimage site, especially during the Middle Ages, Winchester Cathedral venerates the Holy Trinity as well as Saints Peter, Paul, and Swithun. It safeguards the relics of numerous Saxon kings, members of the clergy, and writer Jane Austen in addition to those of Saint Swithun.