Egwin was a native of Worcester born to a noble family. His birth year is unknown and many of the details of his life uncertain. However having entered into religious life as a Benedictine, he was ordained as bishop, and as the third bishop of Worcester, sometime after 693.

It has been suggested that king, clergy, and commonalty all united in demanding Egwin be ordained bishop, despite his own reluctance. It has been observed however that “the popularity which forced on him this reluctant assumption of the episcopal functions was soon wrecked by his apostolic zeal in their discharge.”

Egwin’s name is associated with the foundation of Evesham Abbey. The story told is that around the year 702 a swineherd, Eof, had a vision of Our Lady – the earliest record of an appearance of Our Lady in England. He reported his experience to Bishop Egwin, who after fasting and prayer, walked with three companions, barefoot and singing psalms to the place of the apparition. Egwin himself saw the vision of the beautiful lady, bearing a cross and a book, who blessed him and said ‘Ecce locus quem elegi’ (behold this is the place I have chosen). Egwin – taking the book and cross as signs that Our Lady wished for a monastery where there would be prayer and study – set about the building of a new monastery and abbey, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Egwin died on 30th December 717. He was buried in the Abbey, and his tomb became a focus for devotion and pilgrimage, famed for miracles.

During the 16th-century dissolution of the monasteries, almost all of the abbey was demolished. However since 1952 an annual pilgrimage has been made to Evesham in honour of Our Lady. The town’s Catholic church is dedicated to St Mary and St Egwin. 

St Egwin's memorial is kept on the 10th September.

Father,
Bishop Egwin was a man of prayer and learning
who taught the flock entrusted to his care.
By his ministry many came to love the Church
and have a special devotion to the Mother of your Son.
Through his prayers help us on our pilgrim way to you.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

• There are no evident remains of the Cathedral at Worcester known by Egwin. For details of visiting the current Cathedral please see the notes included on the page for St Wulstan.
• There is relatively little left of Evesham Abbey either, however the ruins - and the town are worth a visit.

​Photographs (c) 2026, Allen Morris

Approach to, and Bell Tower of, the former Evesham Abbey

Detail of window at Worcester Cathedral

Detail of window in All Saints Church, Evesham