guess immediately where the body lay, because of the cow. When his body was disinterred, a spring miraculously appeared where Saint Kenelm had lain, as in the Winchcombe version, which is now followed faithfully once more. Factual records of Kenelm's life Like many medieval hagiographies, St Kenelm's legend appears to bear little relation to any known facts. It can be ascertained from the wider historical record that, on the death of Offa of Mercia, his son Ecgfrith of Mercia was crowned but his reign lasted only 20 weeks and he was presumably killed in battle. He was succeeded by a distant cousin, Coenwulf of Mercia, whose son was Kenelm (Cynehelm), and this would appear to be the reputed saint. It is likely that Coenwulf 'hallowed' Kenelm to the throne, for a letter dated 798, allegedly from Pope Leo III to "King Kenelm", names Kenelm and gives his age as 12. In 799, Kenelm witnessed a deed of gift of land to Christ Church, Canterbury, and from 803 onwards his name appears on a variety of charters. His name disappears from charters for a time after 811, which has led to the belief that he died then. However, he reappears as a subscriber to his father's last charter dated 821, identified as "Kenelmus, son of the king", from this we know he still lived in 821. Therefore, while Kenelm may have died in 821 as legend dictates, he was about 35 years old when he died, not a mere child of 7 years. Historical records also indicate that Kenelm's sister, Cwenthryth (Quendryda), had entered the cloister at the time of her father's death and was the abbess of Minster-in-Thanet. Other associations with St Kenelm Churches There are eight Anglican Churches dedicated to St Kenelm: In addition, there are two Roman Catholic Churches dedicated to Our Lady and St Kenelm. These are located at Halesowen (near The Clent Hills) and at Stow-on-the-Wold (near Winchcombe). Literature St Kenelm is alluded to in Chaucer's The Nun's Priest's Tale: Why in the 'Life' of Saint Kenelm I read Who was Kenelphus' son, the noble king Of Mercia, how Kenelm dreamed a thing A while before he was murdered, so they say, His own death in a vision saw, one day. His nurse interpreted, as records tell, That vision, bidding him to guard him well From treason; but he was but seven years old, And therefore