John Twenge
English saint
Feast: 10 October (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
John Twenge was born near Bridlington in 1319, of the Yorkshire Twenge family. After studying at Oxford he entered the priory of canons regular at Bridlington, held various offices there and, against his wishes, was elected prior, which he remained until his death in 1379. In his lifetime he was already known for great holiness and for miracles; it was said that he changed water into wine, and that he appeared to five seamen of Hartlepool in danger of shipwreck and brought them safely to shore.
After his death the fame of miracles through his intercession spread widely. Evidence was gathered for his canonisation from 1386, his body was solemnly translated in 1404, and Pope Boniface IX canonised him, the last English saint canonised before the Reformation. His shrine was destroyed in 1537.
The miracles
The Catholic Encyclopedia does not describe the miracles approved in the cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
A holy prior of Bridlington, the last English saint canonised before the Reformation.
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. John Twenge
- Roman Martyrology, 10 October (Italian Bishops' Conference, Santo del giorno)
- Wikidata Q938167 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — John Twenge (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.