Hilda of Whitby

Overview

Hilda of Whitby, also known as Hild, is best known for opposing the Roman Catholic tradition of Easter and preferring the Celtic tradition during the Synod of Whitby in 664 CE. Much of what is known of her comes from Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Her authority and influence on Anglo-Saxon Christianity was far reaching during her leadership as abbess of Whitby Abbey.

Early Life

Hilda was born into a noble Northumbrian family around 614 CE. Her father was Hereric, a nephew of King Edwin of Northumbria (616 – c. 633 CE), and her mother was Breguswith. When Hilda was an infant, her mother had a vision of “…a most precious necklace under her garment…”. As she gazed at the necklace it “…spread such a blaze of light that it filled all Britain with its gracious splendor.” Bede writes that this vision was fulfilled in Hilda and her ministry because “…her life was an example of the works of light, blessed not only to herself but to many who desired to live uprightly.” During her time in the Northumbrian court, she was baptized into the Christian faith, along with King Edwin, during the mission of Paulinus, the first bishop of the Northumbrians.

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St. Hilda, Abbess of Whitby

Ministry

After her conversion to Christianity, she continued to live within the royal courts of Northumbria with her sister Hereswith. Her life is relatively unknown until she is 33 when she took vows to become a nun. She decided to journey to East Anglia, where her relative was king, with plans to join a monastery in France. She stayed in East Anglia for a year, following the example of of her sister who had also taken vows. Hilda’s plans changed when Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, called her back to Northumbria. There he gave her a hide of land until she was eventually made abbess of Heruteu (Hartlepool) – a double monastery. Bede writes that she was abbess there for a few years until she founded a double monastery at Streanaeshalch (Whitby) and became its first abbess. According to legend, before she founded the monastery, she had to drive out the snakes that plagued the area. She first prayed to have the heads of the snakes removed and for them to turn to stone. These snakestone can still be found around the surrounding shore of Whitby, but are now known to be ammonite fossils. It was during her time as abbess of Whitby, that one of the most important events took place in English Christianity – the Synod of Whitby.

Synod of Whitby

In 664 CE, a synod was called to finally settle the differences between the Roman Catholic and Irish (Celtic) traditions for when to celebrate Easter. The place chosen to host this gathering was Whitby Abbey. As they gathered, Bede records that Hilda was on the side of the Irish tradition; no doubt influenced by Bishop Aidan. Both sides gave their arguments to King Oswiu of Northumbria until he made his decision to side with the Roman Catholic tradition. Bede writes, “…all who were seated there or standing by, both high and low, signified their assent, gave up their imperfect rules, and readily accepted in their place those which they recognized to be better.” Oswiu’s decision forever changed the course of Christianity in Britain.

The choice to hold the synod at Whitby, according to Henrietta Leyser, gives historians clues to the importance it held in Britain at the time and the influence that Hilda had on her contemporaries. Hilda’s role “…derived not only from the nobility of Hilda’s birth but also from the status of Whitby, under Hilda, as [an] educational centre and seminary.”

Influence

Hilda exercised great influence over her monastery and surrounding kingdom. A few of her pupils went on to become influential and important bishops such as Bosa, Haedda (or Aetla), Oftfor, John of Beverly, and Wilfrid. Along with these future bishops, the first English poet, Caedmon, was encouraged by her during his time at Whitby Abbey. Her influence and monastic leadership were so highly respected that monks, kings, and princes came to Whitby to seek her wisdom.

She was not only an example of holy life to all who were in the monastery but she also provided an opportunity for salvation and repentance to many who lived far away and who heard the happy story of her industry and virtue.

Bede

Later Life and Death

After years of presiding over Whitby, she developed a sickness that afflicted her for the last seven years of her life. Bede writes that she suffered from a fever, and during her last year she developed internal pains until she died on November 17th, 680 CE.

On the night of her death, nuns from two other monasteries received visions of her death. At Hackness Abbey, about 13 miles away from Whitby, a nun named Begu heard a bell and saw Hilda’s soul being lifted to heaven by angels. She went and told her fellow nuns and they prayed all night. In the morning, monks from Whitby arrived to share the news of Hilda’s death and the nuns told them that they already knew because of Begu’s vision. Bede records that another nun within Whitby also had a vision of Hilda’s death while in a separate part of the abbey.

Hilda was known for her deep faith and her commitment to serving others. She was known to fast and pray frequently, and her humility and piety were widely admired. She was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church, and her feast day is celebrated on November 17th.