Saint Eanswith (Old English: Ēanswīþ; born circa 614, Kent, England - died circa 640, Folkestone, England), also spelled Eanswythe or Eanswide, was an Anglo Saxon princess.
In 630, Eanswith founded the Benedictine Folkestone Priory, the first nunnery in England. She was supported in this by her father, Eadbald, who ruled as king of Kent from 616 to 640 CE.[1][2]
She remained at the abbey until her death and was later canonized by the Catholic Church.[1]
Saint Eanswith's day falls on September 12.[3] Traditionally, this is the date on which her remains were translated to the new church in 1138.
In 1885 human remains were discovered in the church wall at the Folkestone parish church, dedicated to "St Mary and St Eanswythe" which may have been those of Saint Eanswith.[4]