Swithun 			July 15
Bishop of Winchester
Not a great deal is known about the life of Swithun. He was born in the kingdom of Wessex and educated at its capital, Winchester. King Egbert of Wessex appointed Swithun as his chaplain, and part of his responsibilities included the education of the king’s son, Ethelwulf. The Viking attacks on Britain were mounting in intensity during the early years of the ninth century, and the kingdom was frequently at war.
When Ethelwulf succeeded to the throne of Wessex in 839, he consolidated the importance of Wessex as the major kingdom in England. He was, however, more interested in religion than military life. In 852 he chose Swithun as bishop of Winchester. In that position Swithun became famous for his acts of charity and for his encouragement of the building of churches. He played an important role as an adviser of the king, who relied heavily on him. Swithun died on 2 July 862, and at his own request was buried, not in the cathedral, as would have been normal for a bishop, but in the grounds of the cathedral, to reinforce his identity with ordinary people. His tomb was just outside the west door of the cathedral.
A century later, when extensive alterations were made to the cathedral, Swithun’s tomb was relocated and encompassed within the new building. His remains were translated in 15 July 971. This was accompanied by heavy rain and reports of miraculous cures, giving rise to Swithun’s association with healing and stories about forty days of rain if rain fell on St Swithun’s Day. There were further translations of Swithun’s remains in 974 and 1093. His shrine was demolished during the Reformation, but restored in 1962.
For Liturgical Use
Little is known of Swithun’s life. He was chaplain to King Egbert of Wessex, whose son Ethelwulf appointed him bishop of Winchester in 852. He remained a valued adviser of the king during the Viking invasions. He became famous for his acts of charity and his encouragement of the building of churches. He died in 862 and was buried in the grounds of the cathedral rather than in the cathedral itself as a sign of his identity with the common people.
Sentence
Blessed are you O God, for you have not rejected my prayer, nor withdrawn from me your steadfast love.		Psalm 66:20
Collects
Gracious God,
you called your servant Swithun
to be a loyal adviser to his king
and a faithful leader of his people;
give us courage
to speak boldly in your name
and follow humbly where you lead;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

God of the sun, the wind and the rain,
we delight in Swithun
and our closeness to fantasy and legend;
may we never lose it altogether.
Psalms	20	147
Readings
Proverbs 3:1-8		Trust and honour God
James 5:16-18		Pray for one another
Matthew 5:43-48		Goodness without limit
Post Communion Sentence
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.	
				Hebrews 13:16