Name St Merewenna | ||
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Mærwynn, also known as St. Merewenna or Merwinna, was a 10th-century saint and abbess of Romsey Abbey.
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Life
Legend has it that she was born in Ireland and educated by St. Patrick, but five centuries separate them. She is known more historically from a Charter of Edgar the Peaceable, the Liber Vitae of the New Minster and the Secgan Manuscripts Hagiography.
She was the Abbess of Romsey (fl 967 – 975 AD), and there is some certainty that she was appointed to the position of abbess by King Edgar the Peaceable on Christmas day in 974.
King Edgar sent Aelfflaed, his daughter, to Mærwynn for care, and she became like a foster mother to the princess.
Legacy
The foundations of Mærwynn's abbey (destroyed by Vikings in 1003 AD) have been found under the tower, choir stalls and part of the nave of the current Norman church.
She was buried at Romsey Abbey and was venerated post-mortem. Her Feast Day is 13 May, but was originally 10 February.