Winchester, the ancient capital of Wessex in south-central England is a beautiful city. Or was before the Forces of Mamon took over. However, turn away from the city centre and its hubbub into the cloistered quiet of Winchester Cathedral. Sheltered in its magnificent calm are the remains of many that were once mortal.
One of the most venerated and earliest are those of Swithin, Bishop of Winchester for the decade 852-862 and recorded on the jingle:
St. Swithin’s day if thou dost rain
For forty days it will remain;
St. Swithin’s day if thou be fair
For forty days ‘twill rain na mair
Bishop Swithin attained his lofty position by his former student, Athelwulf, King of the Saxons. And not much more is really known about him.
Before he died on 2nd July 862, though, he is said to have exacted a promise from the monks that he would not be laid to rest within the cathedral but out in the churchyard. His desires were heeded and out in the open he was buried were all could walk over his grave.
A short while later, Bishop Swithin was canonized and the monks no longer though it fit that a saint should lie out under the sky. Thus it came to pass on his Feast Day, 15 July, they prepared to remove his remains into the choir of Winchester Cathedral. They did not get very far. A furious rainstorm commenced. It continued for 40 more days, a clear indication all believed that Saint Swithin disagreed with their intentions. Instead, a chapel was built over his grave.
The following century when renovations were undertaken by King Ethelwold sufficient time had apparently elapsed to pacify Saint Swithin. There were no meteorological manifestations when the holy relics found their last resting place in the basilica – or at least none that went recorded.
Superstition still has it that should it rain on 15th July, 40 more days of precipitation will follow even as far away as our Toronto neighbour ‘Black’ Jack can quote. Hampshire locals, however, may quote an equally old saying that should it rain on that day, St. Swithin is “christening his apples.” Appropriate, Wessex is famed for its hard cider – and a half-century ago every fourth store on Winchester High Street was a pub.
Should U.S. meteorologists be correct and a new El Niño form this summer over the Pacific, wetter than normal conditions could be our lot. In such case a Winchester pub might offer welcome shelter to the soggy gardener.
Wes Porter is a horticultural consultant and writer based in Toronto. Wes has over 40 years of experience in both temperate and tropical horticulture from three continents.
