John of Bridlington

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Saint John of Bridlington

Born	1319, Thwing, England
Died	10 October 1379
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Canonized	1401 by Pope Boniface IX
Feast	October 21
Attributes	fish, book, crozier, fur almice; muzzled animal at his feet
Patronage	women in difficult labour; fishermen
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Saint John of Bridlington (John Thwing, John of Thwing, John Twenge, John Thwing of Bridlington) (1319-1379) is an English saint of the 14th century. Born John Twenge in 1319 in the village of Thwing on the Yorkshire Wolds, about nine miles west of Bridlington, he was of the Yorkshire family Twenge, which family in Reformation days supplied two priest-martyrs and was also instrumental in establishing the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Bar Convent, York.

John completed his studies at Oxford and then entered the Priory of Bridlington. Charged successively with various offices in the community, he was finally despite his reluctance elected prior, which office he held until his death.

1 Miracles attributed to him
2 Death and canonization
3 Veneration
4 External links

[edit] Miracles attributed to him

Even in his lifetime he enjoyed a reputation for great holiness and for miraculous powers. On one occasion he changed water into wine. On another, five seamen from Hartlepool in danger of shipwreck called upon God in the name of His servant, John of Bridlington, whereupon the prior himself appeared to them in his canonical habit and brought them safely to shore.

[edit] Death and canonization

After his death from natural causes the fame of the miracles wrought by his intercession spread rapidly through the land. Archbishop Neville charged his suffragans and others to take evidence with a view to his canonization, 26 July, 1386; and the same prelate assisted by the Bishops of Durham and Carlisle officiated at a solemn translation of his body, 11 March, 1404, de mandato Domini Papae.

This pope, Boniface IX, shortly afterwards canonized him. The fact has been doubted and disputed; but the original Bull was unearthed in the Vatican archives by Mr. T.A. Twemlow, who was engaged in research work there for the British Government.

At the Reformation Henry VIII was asked to spare the magnificent shrine of the saint, but in vain; it was destroyed in 1537. The splendid nave of the church, restored in 1857, is all that now remains of Bridlington Priory. The saint's feast is observed by the canons regular on 9 October.

[edit] Veneration

He was the last English saint to be canonised before the Protestant Reformation. King Henry V attributed his victory at Agincourt to the intercession in heaven of this Saint John and of Saint John of Beverley.

Women in difficult labour pray to St John of Bridlington for intercession, and he is also associated with the local fishing industry.

There is a St John's Street in Bridlington named after him, an old thoroughfare linking the "Old Town" that grew up around Bridlington Priory with the quayside community of fishermen and traders.

At the church of St Andrew, Hempstead, a wooden panel showing John of Bridlington depicts him holding a fish, and in episcopal robes, though he never served as bishop.[1]