Cuthburh

Overview

Cuthburh, also spelled Cuthburg or Cuthburga, was the daughter of King Cenred of Wessex and the sister of King Ine of Wessex. Her life is relatively unknown, but she is notable for her marriage to Aldfrith, King of Northumbria and son of King Oswiu of Northumbria. Together, they had two sons, Osred and Offa, although it is unclear if Offa was truly a child of Cuthburh. Around 705, before Aldfrith’s death, the couple divorced by mutual consent to pursue chastity and the monastic life. Aldfrith, a learned man, had trained to become a clergyman before ascending to the throne.

Cuthburh entered the double monastery of Barking Abbey in Essex, serving under Abbess Hildelith. Following the death of St. Aldhelm, Cuthburh left Barking Abbey and established a double monastic community at Wimborne in Wessex. Most of what is known about Wimborne Abbey comes from the Life of St. Leoba. Under Cuthburh’s leadership, Wimborne quickly became famous for its literary activity and, at its height, housed 500 nuns. The structure of Wimborne Abbey was quite strict compared to other famous double houses, such as Whitby. Communication between men and women was limited to the partaking of the Eucharist, and the abbess would only communicate with the monks through a window.

Despite these strict rules, Wimborne’s fame grew. Leoba, who was trained there and later joined her cousin Boniface, Bishop of the Germans, spoke highly of Wimborne. It is believed that Cuthburh, thought to be a distant cousin of St. Aldhelm, is the Cuthburh mentioned in the dedication of Aldhelm’s On Virginity.

Cuthburh died on August 31, 725, at Wimborne Abbey, and her feast day is celebrated on the same date.