St Swithun’s is a unique ‘upper room’ where people have gathered for worship and prayer for centuries. The church is open daily to visitors, and we gather every Sunday at 6pm for a service (normally Evensong, but Holy Communion on the 2nd Sunday of the month). We love worshipping there for the deep sense of peace that sets us up for the busy week ahead - why not join us? Please note that the church is accessed up a flight of stairs from the street level. It is a ‘chapel-of-ease’ to the parish church of St Lawrence, which means that it is not licensed for weddings (except in exceptional circumstances), but those with a connection to the parish may be married at St Lawrence or at our sister parish of St Bartholomew, Hyde.

History

The church sits above one of Winchester’s medieval city gates, the King’s Gate, and is believed to be the only such church in England still in active use. It is dedicated to St Swithun, one of the best loved of Saxon saints, who was bishop of Winchester in the 9th century. The church would have been an important stop for the many pilgrims who came to Winchester to venerate the shrine of Swithun at the Cathedral. To find out more about the story of Swithun, as depicted on our blue altar frontal, please click the button below.