Merwinna of Romsey

Saint Merwinna was abbess of the Romsey monastery in England and died around 970. She is venerated as a saint by both the Catholic and the Orthodox Church.

Legend says she was born in Ireland and educated by Saint Patrick, but five centuries separate them. Historically, her name appears in the Charter of Edgar the Peaceful and in the hagiography of the manuscripts of Stephen the Protomartyr.

She was the first abbess of the monastery at Romsey (Rumsey) in Hampshire, refounded in 967 by King Edgar. Under her care the monastery flourished and attracted princesses, among them Saint Elfleda, who buried Merwinna in the monastery church.

Her commemoration is given as 23 October and 10 February, while the list before us has 13 May, so the day is not the same in all sources.