Adwen

This article is about Saint Adwen. For the offshore wind services company, see Adwen (company).

Adwen or Adwenna is purported to have been a 5th-century Christian virgin and saint.^[1] According to historian Nicholas Orme, Adwen was identified in the original tradition as a brother of Nectan of Hartland, but subsequently misclassified by Charles Henderson in the 18th century as female.^[2]

Saint Adwen
Princess of Brycheiniog
Born	5th century Brycheiniog
Died	5th or 6th century Cornwall
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Major shrine	Advent
Patronage	Advent

Adwen is therefore recorded as a daughter of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog in south Wales, in Doble's Life of Saint Nectan^[3] and in Robert Hunt's collection of Cornish legends.^[4] These sources associate her with the establishment of the parish of Advent in Cornwall.

The saint's feast day is unknown. In Cornwall Adwen was traditionally the patron saint of sweethearts.^[5]

See also

• Saint Dwynwen, the related Welsh saint
• St Adwen's Church, Advent