Birnstan of Winchester

Holy Hierarch Birnstan of Winchester (Beornstan, Byrnstan) was bishop of Winchester in England from 931 until his repose on 1 November 934. He was known for humility and for his love of praying for the departed. He is a saint of the undivided Church.

At the start of King Æthelstan's reign, in 924, he was one of the mass priests of the royal household, probably in charge of the king's relics. When Bishop Frithestan resigned in 931, the king gave Birnstan the see; he was consecrated in May 931. Of his three years as bishop only his signature on a few royal charters survives. He died at the Old Minster in Winchester, where he was probably buried. The chronicler William of Malmesbury presents him as a model of piety who celebrated daily Mass for the dead and washed the feet of the poor. Tradition says his cult as a saint began under a later bishop, Æthelwold, to whom he is supposed to have appeared to complain that in heaven he was honoured equally with Birinus and Swithun but was neglected at Winchester. His cult never became popular.

He is commemorated on 4 November, the liturgical date in the Orthodox calendar (the same day number on the old and new calendars).