Wilfrid
Northumbrian churchman trained at Lindisfarne, Rome and Lyons. As abbot of Ripon he argued the Roman case on Easter at Whitby in 664; he was then a bishop for forty-five years, much of it in dispute with kings and in appeals to Rome.
Wilfrid entered the monastery of Lindisfarne at fourteen, then travelled to Rome and spent time at Lyons, where he received the Roman tonsure (Bede, Ecclesiastical History 5.19) (Bede, Ecclesiastical History 3.25). King Alchfrid gave him the monastery of Ripon, from which monks of the Irish observance had withdrawn. At the Synod of Whitby he spoke for the Roman reckoning of Easter, and shortly afterwards he was chosen bishop (Bede, Ecclesiastical History 3.25) (Stephen of Ripon, Life of Wilfrid 10–11).
Bede tells how he was twice put out of his bishopric by Northumbrian kings and twice went to Rome to plead his case before the pope (Bede, Ecclesiastical History 5.19). He says that Wilfrid was a bishop for forty-five years and died in the district of Oundle in the year that King Coenred of Mercia left for Rome, which Bede dates to 709 (Bede, Ecclesiastical History 5.24); he was buried in his church of St Peter at Ripon (Bede, Ecclesiastical History 5.19). His follower Stephen wrote his Life.
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.