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Winwaloe

Founder of Landévennec Abbey (c. 460–532)

SaintResearchedBenedictinesPre-congregation

Feast: 3 March (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)

Born

460

Died

532

Beatified

—

not needed: before formal processes

Canonised

By tradition

recognised before formal processes began

Who they were

Winwaloe (Guénolé), son of a British chieftain who fled to Brittany, overcame his father's objections to become a monk under St Budoc.

With eleven companions he lived in great austerity and founded the monastery of Landévennec near Brest. He died on 3 March, probably early in the sixth century, and many miracles were ascribed to him.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

The founding abbot of Landévennec.

Connected on this site

Budoc Saint Teacher
Clervie Saint Brother or sister
Ethbin Saint Pupil
Fragan Saint Parent, Father
Gwen Teirbron Saint Mother, Parent
Jacut Saint Brother or sister
Wethenoc Saint Brother or sister

Sources

Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. Winwaloe
Wikidata Q2361972 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
English Wikipedia — Winwaloe (CC BY-SA)

Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.