News Item: : St. Winefride's Well
(Category: Torch of The Faith News)
Posted by admin
Friday 10 October 2008 - 18:27:33

holywell.jpgOne of the great blessings about living in this part of North Wales is the proximity of St. Winefride's Well over at Holywell; a great place to pray for the reconversion of Great Britain!

The tradition of St. Winefride's Well states that, during the 7th Century, the saint was beheaded whilst defending her purity against an attack by a local nobleman called Caradog. The original well sprung at the place where her head fell. St. Beuno, a local priest who was her uncle, miraculously restored her head and brought her back to life (leaving a scar on her neck which is often depicted in images of the saint). For the next 22 years until her death St. Winefride lived as a nun, for some time serving as prioress. 

Ever since, the well has been a place of Christian pilgrimage. 


holywell_001.jpgEven the Reformation failed to prevent pilgrims; which means that Holywell is the only such place in Great Britain with a continuous history of public pilgrimage lasting over 13 centuries! Records of healings at the well are extant from the 12th century through to the present, and in the shrine museum visitors may witness a collection of discarded wooden crutches.



holywell_002.jpgAbove the well stands this 2 storey, late perpendicular Gothic chapel dating from the early 16th century. (This is now an Anglican church - the present Catholic parish church of St. Winefride stands a few hundred yards further up the hill).

Several years ago, we went though the well waters three times in honour of the Blessed Trinity as an act of the will towards a more sincere conversion. Although it was 9 a.m. on a sunny August day it was very c-c-cold! As an act of penitential prayer which is also cathartic I highly recommend it!

Holywell is named as the Lourdes of Wales because of the spring of water, the numerous healings and the profound sense of holiness and prayer with which the air down by the well is, quite literally, soaked.

holywell_003.jpgPotential visitors may be interested in this recently refurbished and opened guest house a little further up the hill which is run by the faithful Bridgettine Sisters. A priest friend of ours has just been there for a few days of silent retreat and highly recommends it!
 



This news item is from Torch of The Faith
( http://www.torchofthefaith.com/news.php?extend.80 )