What is "modwenna"

Modwen, or Modwenna, was a nun and saint in England, who founded Burton-on-Trent Abbey in Staffordshire in the 7th century.

According to the medieval Life of St Modwenna she was an Irish noblewoman by birth and founded the abbey on an island in the River Trent. Modwenna spent seven years at the abbey with two other Irish nuns called Lazar and Althea, before the three embarked on a pilgrimage to Rome. Upon their return to England they built a church at Stapenhill in honour of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Modwen is reported to have performed many holy miracles at Burton Abbey, and to this day the well on the site is said have healing properties. After a time Modwen left Burton-upon-Trent and travelled to Scotland where she died in Langfortin, near Dundee, reportedly at the age of 130. Her body was returned to Burton-upon-Trent for burial. Another abbess and saint, Osyth (died 700), was raised under Modwenna's direction.

Others, however, say that she has been confused with St Monenna ( Moninne) of Ireland and with a Scottish saint also called Modwenna, and that the Anglo-Norman text of her life has little historical value. This may be how she comes to be associated with Alfred the Great, whom she is said to have known, even though he lived in the 9th century, some two hundred years later.

St Modwen's, Burton upon Trent is dedicated to her as is the chapel at Pillaton Hall.