Saint Erconwald of London

Also known as

• Erkenwald
• Erkenwold
• Erkonwald
• The Light of London

Memorial

• 13 May
• 14 November translation of his relics
• 24 April on some calendars
• 30 April on some calendars

Profile

May have been related to royalty. Benedictine monk. Founded Chertsey Abbey in Surrey, England, and served as its first abbot. Founded a convent at Barking, Essex, England; his sister, Saint Ethelburga of Barking, served as its abbess. Appointed bishop of the East Saxons by Saint Theodore of Canterbury in 675; his see was in London. Suffered from severe gout, but continually travelled through his diocese. His shrine was a pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages, and the sick were miraculously cured by touching the chair he used for travel.

Born

• in 7th century East Anglia, England

Died

• c.686 in London, England
• interred in Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London
• re-interred in the crypt following the fire of 1087
• relics translated to a new shrine on 14 November 1148
• relics translated to a new shrine on 1 February 1326

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Patronage

• against gout

Representation

• bishop in a small chariot, which he used for travelling his diocese
• with Saint Ethelburga of Barking

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia, by Columba Edmonds
• Golden Legend
• Katherine Rabenstein
• Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
• Orthodox England
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
• Roman Martyrology

MLA Citation

• “Saint Erconwald of London“. Saints.SQPN.com. 29 April 2013. Web. 25 May 2013. <>