Hilda of Whitby
Northumbrian noblewoman, kin to King Edwin, who became a nun at thirty-three, ruled the monastery of Hartlepool and then founded Whitby, where the synod of 664 met. Bede says that kings sought her advice.
Hilda was a great-niece of King Edwin of Northumbria and was baptized with him by Paulinus. Bede says that she lived thirty-three years in the world and thirty-three as a nun, and died on 17 November 680 at the age of sixty-six. Bishop Aidan called her back from East Anglia to Northumbria, where she became abbess of Heruteu (Hartlepool) and then founded the monastery of Streanaeshalch, identified with Whitby (Bede, Ecclesiastical History 4.23) (Bede, Ecclesiastical History 3.24).
In her house no one was rich or poor and all things were held in common. Kings and princes sought her advice, and Bede names five men trained there who became bishops (Bede, Ecclesiastical History 4.23). At the synod held there in 664 she and her community stood with the Irish party (Bede, Ecclesiastical History 3.25).
In the timeline
- AD 664, firm dateThe Synod of Whitby
At Hilda’s monastery of Whitby, King Oswiu of Northumbria hears the Irish and the Roman parties argue over the date of Easter and decides for Rome, citing Peter’s keys. Bishop Colman and his followers leave for Iona and Ireland.
Primary sources
Ecclesiastical History of the English People
- Bede, Ecclesiastical History 4.23gutenberg.org
- Bede, Ecclesiastical History 3.24gutenberg.org
- Bede, Ecclesiastical History 3.25gutenberg.org