St Swithun

Saint Swithun was the Bishop of Winchester in Anglo Saxon times from 852 until he died in 862. He was born in the kingdom of Wessex and he was famous for giving charitable gifts and building churches. Upon his request he was buried in a humble grave outside the church in Winchester, where it might be subject to the feet of passers by and to the raindrops pouring from on high. However the monks did not think that it was a fitting tribute for the bishop. Over 100 years after his death in 971 he was adopted as a patron Saint and his body was moved to a shrine in the Old Minster at Winchester. His body was moved on the 15th July, and on that day it rained and continued to rain for forty days and forty nights. The monks thought that this may have been because St Swithun was protesting against the moving of his remains.
An old legend recounts how he miraculously restored a basketful of eggs, carried by a Winchester egg woman, that had been maliciously broken by some workmen.

Old Proverb
The name of Swithun is best known these days for a British weather proverb, which suggests that if it rains on Saint Swithun’s day, which is the 15 July, it will rain for 40 days.

St Swithun’s day if thou dost rain
For forty days it will remain
St Swithun’s day if thou be fair
For forty days ’twill rain no more

A Buckinghamshire variation has

If on St Swithun’s day it really pours
You’re better off to stay indoors.