Saint Edith

Saint Edith of Wilton (c. 961 – c. 984) was an English saint and member of the community at Wilton Abbey, born to King Edgar of England and Saint Wulfthryth. Although her parents might have been married and Edgar might have abducted Wulfthryth from Wilton Abbey, Edith's mother returned with her daughter after their marriage was dissolved. Both Edith and her mother remained at Wilton for the rest of their lives. Like her mother, Edith received an education at Wilton and chose a religious life from a young age, although it is uncertain whether she became a nun or a secular member of the community. Goscelin, who completed her hagiography around 1080, reports that Edith always dressed magnificently to reflect her royal status and fulfill certain roles to ensure continued royal patronage of the Wilton community.

At age 15, she declined an offer from her father to become abbess of three convents. In 978, after the murder of her half-brother Edward the Martyr, Edith may have been offered the English throne but refused it. In 984, at the age of 23, she constructed a chapel dedicated to St Denys at Wilton Abbey and died there on September 16, three weeks later. Her thumb was reportedly uncorrupted when Dunstan consecrated her chapel, which he had foretold would be the case. Saint Edith's relics were translated by Dunstan in 987, and she is venerated for intercession in matters related to Wilton Abbey’s property protection.