Oswald was born around 925 and was of Danish heritage. He was brought up by his uncle Oda, who was Archbishop of Canterbury (from 941-958)

Oswald was educated and became a Benedictine monk at Fleury, France. He returned to England in 958. On recommendation of Archbishop Dunstan, his uncle’s successor at Canterbury, Oswald was appointed to accede Dunstan as Bishop of Winchester in 961. He was also appointed Archbishop of York in 972, and held both ministries until his death in 992.

Oswald was a supporter of Archbishop Dunstan’s reforms of the church, including monastic reforms following the disruption brought about by the Danish invasions. Oswald himself founded a number of monasteries, including Ramsey Abbey, and reformed another seven, including Winchcombe in Gloucestershire and Pershore and Evesham in Worcestershire.

With support from King Edgar Oswald founded a monastery for Benedictine monks adjacent to Worcester’s Cathedral, and gradually replaced the cathedral’s chapter of secular clergy with  monks. He also built a new Cathedral dedicated to Our Lady, completed in 983. This replaced the earlier cathedral dedicated to St Peter. St Oswald’s cathedral was itself replaced by the Norman Cathedral, begun by St Wulfstan in 1084.

Oswald died on 29 February 992 in the act of washing the feet of the poor at Worcester, his daily custom during Lent. He was buried in the cathedral church, his shrine remaining a focus for devotion and pilgrimage until its despoiling at the time of the English reformation.

The Memorial of St Oswald is kept on 28th February.

God our Father,
you blessed your people in Oswald
as a true shepherd of your flock,
a man of prayer who cared for both rich and poor.
Through his intercession
may we remain always faithful 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.

• Worcester Cathedral welcomes pilgrims!
• As well as being a Cathedral Worcester was - until the Reformation - a monastic house too. Reminders of the Benedectine priory can be seen in the Cathedral grounds, in the Cloisters, quire, and chapter house, and in the former refectory (now part of the King's School). 
• The shrine of St Oswald, along with that of St Wulstan, formerly in the Cathedral, was destroyed at the Reformation. However small images of both saints were carved on the tomb of King John, and remain to this day. 
• More information about interesting things to do on a visit or pilgrimage to Worceseter can be found on the page dedicated to St Wulstan.

Photographs (c) 2025, Allen Morris.

Detail of window in Worcester Cathedral

Image of St Oswald on the tomb of King John at Worcester Cathedral

Details from windows in the cloister of Worcester Cathedral