Walstan

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St. Walston

Saint Walstan or Walston (d. 1016), was born either in Bawburgh in Norfolk, or Blytburgh in Suffolk, and because of his life dedicated to farming and the care of farm animals, is the patron saint of farms, farmers, farmhands, ranchers and husbandrymen.

He was born into a wealthy family but when he was only twelve, he left his parents home and travelled to Taverham, in Norfolk, where he worked as a farm labourer. In 1016, after a vision from an angel, Walstan died while at work, scything a hay crop on 30 May. His body was laid on a cart, pulled by two white oxen, as he had instructed and the cortege ended up at Bawburgh, where he was buried. At the three points along the journey that the oxen stopped, a spring arose (though only the well at Bawburgh can now be found). By popular demand, he was declared a saint and a small chapel built off the existing church of St Mary, giving it a new dedication of St Mary and St Walstan. Since then, and until the present day, St Walstan has been honoured as a special saint of farm workers, farmers and farm animals. Throughout the days of medieval pilgrimage, his shrine was sought from pilgrims from far and wide as well as local farmers and farm labourers.

St. Walstan is represented in religious art by a crown and sceptre (genetic emblems) and with a scythe in his hand and cattle near him (specific emblems). Pre-Reformation icons occur mostly in Norfolk and Suffolk but in modern times his cult has extended to Buckinghamshire, Kent and - amazingly - to Rongai in Kenya, where a church was dedicated to St Walstan in 1988.

Results of a detailed study of the legend and cult of St Walstan - including a detailed world gazetteer - can be found in two books, 'In Search of St Walstan' (published in 1995, ISBN 0-9521499-1-5) and 'Saint with the Silver Shoes, The Continuing Search for St Walstan' (published in 2004, ISBN 0-9521499-3-1) both written by local historian and author, Carol Twinch.

St Walstan's Day is celebrated annually in Bawburgh, with a special Patronal Service taking place on the nearest Sunday to his feastdate, i.e. 30 May.

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopaedia.