Background
She was supported in this by her father, Eadbald, who ruled as king of Kent from 616 to 640 Civil Engineering.
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Saint Eanswith
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Around 630, the building of the monastery was completed.
Career
In 630, Eanswith founded the Benedictine Folkestone Priory, the first nunnery in England. Eanswythe, however, refused. This was the first women"s monastery to be founded in England.
Saint Eanswythe lived there with her companions in the monastic life, and they may have been guided by some of the Roman monks who had come to England with Saint Augustine in 597.
The first monastic site became abandoned by the 10th century, and began to be eroded by the sea, a problem which also afflicted a new foundation of 1095. A site further inland was provided for a new foundation of Folkestone Priory by William de Abrincis in 1137, with a church dedicated to Street Mary and Street Eanswythe.
Saint Eanswith"s day falls on September 12. The priory was closed at the Reformation, and the Church became Folkestone parish church of Street Mary and Street Eanswythe.
During restoration work at the church in 1885 human remains were discovered in a lead reliquery, embeded within the church wall, which were identified as a 12th-century vessel, and the bones of a young woman.
This led to the conclusion that they could be the translated relics of Saint Eanswith, hidden away at the Reformation. Eanswith is sometimes portrayed with a fish, along with her abbess"s staff, crown and a book This appears to be a recent attribute, from Folkestone"s fishing port connection.
Goscelin of Saint-Bertin mentions Eanswith in his 11th century Vita Sancta Werburge.
As well as the former Priory church at Folkestone, Eanswith has the following church dedications:- Street Eanswith"s Church, Brenzett, Kent.
