history
continued ...
King Alfred the Great (849 - 900) favored Winchester and
it grew as a center of religion, learning and civilized
arts. Edward the Confessor, the last, but ineffectual, Saxon
king, restored Saxon rule but boosted Norman influence,
paving the way for William's conquest in 1066. With the
Normans, London gained influence to Winchester's demise.
St. Swithun became the bishop of Winchester in 852. Exactly
what St. Swithun did is not clear, but he was greatly revered
both in life and after death. His bones were laid to rest
outside Oldminster in 861, moved inside in about 980 and
moved again to the new Norman Cathedral in 1093. Legend
has it that when St. Swithun's bones were moved from their
Saxon resting place, his spirit wept and it rained for 40
days; hence the popular lore that if it rains on St. Swithun's
Day (July 15) it will rain for the next 40 days. In September
1538, three royal commissioners stole into the Cathedral,
wrecked the ancient shrine of St. Swithun and the high altar,
and destroyed the saint's remains.
