St. Werstan

St. Werstan was a monk of the Saxon monastery of Deerhurst in Gloucestershire which was destroyed by the Northmen. Werstan escaped and fled through the Malvern Chase, finding sanctuary on the Malvern Hills[1] at a hermitage near St. Ann's Well.[2] Legend tells that the settlement in Great Malvern began following the murder of St. Werstan. Although the legend may be monastic mythology, historians have however concluded that he was the original martyr.[3] A 15th Century stained glass window in Great Malvern Priory depicts the story of St. Werstan, with details of his vision, the consecration of his chapel, Edward the Confessor granting the charter for the site, and Werstan's martyrdom.[2] Grindrod (p.168) states that Deerhurst was an Abbey before becoming a Priory, that Werstan was its Abbot, and that he founded the religious community in Malvern. He does not provide references. [4]

References

  1. ^ Nott, J: 1885, Some of the antiquities of "Moche Malverne"
  2. ^ a b Severn Burrow, C.F: 1948, A little city set on the hill: the story of Malvern
  3. ^ Weaver, C; Osborne, B: 2006 The Illumination of St. Werstan the Martyr ISBN 9781873809679
  4. ^ Charles F. Grindrod, Malvern: what to see and where to go, 1899