Holywell St Winefride’s Day

Where: Holywell, Flintshire, Wales at the Church on Well Street and St Winefride's Well
When: Sunday nearest 22nd June
Time: 2.30 pm

 

According to legend,when St Winefride’s head landed on the ground as the rejected lustful villain Caradoc smote it from her neck with his sword, a spring of pure water gushed forth, which is the origin of the holy well on the site at Holywell. Winefride was miraculously restored to life and went on to become a nun; her shrine has been a place of pilgrimage and healing for centuries and is believed to be the only one  to have a record of pilgrimage of over 1000 years in the UK. The saint’s feast day is June 22nd and each year on the Sunday nearest, a Pilgrimage takes place from the Church to the Well, followed by veneration of her Relics and blessing of the sick. Expect a procession of clergy and dignitaries, and families with very smartly turned out children.

Helpful Hints

In 2025 it should be on Sunday June 22nd.

St Winefride’s Well may be visited all year around (see link for details) – bottles for the holy water may be purchased on site or you can fill your own container. Bathing in the healing waters is available at set times but not on the day of the Pilgrimage. Food & drink are available on site. Admission is free on Pilgrimage Day but of course donations may be made.

Click here for the Well website: https://www.stwinefridesshrine.org/

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