The miracle that created one of the oldest healing shrines in the world.
Saint Winefride’s story is one of the most astonishing miracles in Christian history — a miracle that not only restored her life but created a healing spring that has drawn pilgrims for over 1,300 years. According to ancient accounts, after Winefride was violently attacked and beheaded, her uncle Saint Beuno prayed over her body, and her head was miraculously restored. At the exact spot where her head fell, a spring burst from the ground — a spring that still flows today in Holywell, Wales. For centuries, people have visited this sacred site seeking physical healing, emotional restoration, and spiritual renewal. This article explores Winefride’s dramatic story, the exact location of the spring, the history of pilgrimages, and the miracles reported both in the past and in modern times.
The Attack That Sparked a Miracle
Winefride (Gwenfrewi) lived in 7th‑century Wales, preparing for religious life.
A local nobleman, Caradog, became enraged when she rejected his advances.
He chased her as she fled toward the church where her uncle, Saint Beuno, was celebrating Mass.
Just as she reached the church door, he struck her down.
Her head rolled down the hillside.
And then — the miracle began.
✨ The Spring That Burst From the Ground
At the exact spot where Winefride’s head landed, the earth split open and a spring of water surged upward.
This spring became known as:
- St. Winefride’s Well
- Holywell
- Ffynnon Wenffrewi (in Welsh)
- “The Lourdes of Wales”
The water was immediately considered holy.
And it still flows today — 1,300+ years later.
Exact Location of the Spring
📍 Holywell, Flintshire, North Wales
(About 25 minutes from Chester, 1 hour from Liverpool)
The site is located in a stone‑built shrine complex that includes:
- a 15th‑century Gothic chapel built directly over the spring
- a large stone pool where pilgrims bathe
- a flowing channel of spring water
- carved medieval pillars and arches
- votive offerings from centuries of pilgrims
It is one of the oldest continually visited pilgrimage sites in the world.
The Restoration of Winefride’s Life
Saint Beuno rushed from the church, lifted Winefride’s body, and prayed with deep anguish.
He placed her head back onto her neck.
He prayed again.
Before the eyes of the faithful:
Winefride opened her eyes.
She stood up.
She lived.
She bore only a thin white scar around her neck.
She later became a nun and abbess, living a long life of holiness.
Pilgrimages Through the Centuries
Holywell became a major pilgrimage destination beginning in the early Middle Ages.
Medieval Pilgrims
Kings, queens, peasants, monks, and the sick traveled from across Europe.
Notable visitors included:
- King Richard I
- King Henry V
- Margaret Beaufort (mother of Henry VII)
- Countless medieval pilgrims who carved their initials into the stone walls
Modern Pilgrims
People still visit today for:
- healing
- prayer
- emotional restoration
- spiritual renewal
- immersion in the spring’s waters
The site is open year‑round and remains active with Masses, confessions, and pilgrim groups.
Have There Been Miracles? Past AND Present
Yes — and they are well documented.
Historical Miracles
Medieval records list dozens of healings, including:
- paralysis cured
- blindness reversed
- chronic pain relieved
- fevers broken
- emotional and mental healing
- protection from danger
Many of these accounts were recorded by monks and pilgrims who witnessed them.
Modern Miracles
Visitors today still report:
- sudden relief from long‑term pain
- healing of skin conditions
- emotional breakthroughs
- peace after trauma
- answered prayers
- renewed faith
The spring is not treated as magic —
but as a place where God’s grace has touched countless lives.
What the Site Looks Like Today
The shrine is breathtaking:
- A Gothic stone chapel sits directly over the spring.
- The water flows into a large, clear pool where pilgrims can bathe.
- The pool is surrounded by medieval arches, carvings, and stone pillars.
- The water is cold, pure, and constantly flowing.
- A small museum displays crutches, braces, and testimonies left by healed pilgrims.
- The atmosphere is peaceful, reverent, and deeply moving.
It feels like stepping into a living piece of sacred history.
Why Her Story Still Matters
Saint Winefride’s miracle is a story of:
- restoration
- healing
- protection
- hope
- God’s power to bring life out of violence
Her spring continues to draw people because her story is ultimately about God making whole what was broken.
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