Whitby Abbey
Overview
The Abbey of Whitby, also known as the Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Hilda, was a prominent religious institution in North Yorkshire, England. Founded in 657 CE by St. Hilda, at the request of King Oswiu of Northumbria, the abbey played a vital role in the religious and cultural life of the region for over 900 years.
The abbey was founded as a double monastery, meaning that it housed both male and female religious communities. The first abbess of the community was Saint Hilda, who is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of the abbey. Hilda was known for her wisdom and her ability to mediate disputes, and she was a trusted advisor to both secular and religious leaders.
Over the centuries, the abbey grew in size and influence. It became known for its rich liturgical tradition, its skilled craftsmen, and its dedication to learning. The monks and nuns who lived at the abbey were responsible for producing illuminated manuscripts, metalwork, and other works of art that were highly valued throughout the region.
Image: Benedictine Abbey ruins on top of Whitby Abbey
One of the most famous events in the history of the Abbey of Whitby was the Synod of Whitby, which took place in 664 CE. This was a meeting of bishops and religious leaders from both the Celtic and Roman traditions, who came together to resolve a number of disputes over liturgical practice and church governance. The meeting was chaired by King Oswiu himself, and it ultimately resulted in the adoption of the Roman liturgical practices in the Northumbrian church. This decision had far-reaching consequences for the development of Christianity in England, and it helped to establish the Roman Church as the dominant form of Christianity in the region.
St. Hilda of Whitby
Saint Hilda of Whitby (614-680) was a Christian saint and abbess who lived in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria in what is now the United Kingdom. She is known for her strong leadership and her promotion of learning and scholarship.
Hilda was born into the royal family of Northumbria and was baptized as a Christian at the age of 13. She became a nun and was later chosen to lead a monastery in Hartlepool. She later moved to Whitby, where she established a new monastery on the site of an existing Roman settlement.
Under Hilda’s leadership, the monastery at Whitby became a center of learning and scholarship, attracting both men and women from across the region. Hilda was known for her wise counsel and her ability to mediate disputes among the clergy and other leaders of the community. She was also a patron of the arts and commissioned the creation of illuminated manuscripts, which were highly prized in the medieval period.
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.
Detail from St. Hilda at Hartlepool by James Clark (oil painting)
Detail from St. Hilda at Hartlepool by James Clark (oil painting)
Influence
In the centuries that followed, the Abbey of Whitby continued to play an important role in the religious and cultural life of the region. However, it also faced a number of challenges. The abbey was repeatedly attacked by Vikings, and it was damaged by fires and other natural disasters. In the 16th century, it was dissolved as part of King Henry VIII’s campaign to disband the monasteries, and its buildings were largely destroyed.
Today, the site of the Abbey of Whitby is a popular tourist attraction. Visitors can explore the ruins of the abbey, which include the remains of the church, the chapter house, and the dormitory. They can also learn about the history of the abbey and its importance to the religious and cultural life of the region. The abbey continues to be an important symbol of the rich history and heritage of North Yorkshire, and it remains a testament to the enduring power of religious institutions to shape the course of human history.
Related Topics
Further Research & Sources
The Archaeology of Whitby Abbey, by Colin and Angela Harrison. Stroud: Tempus, 2003.
Whitby Abbey: Its Rise and Fall, by Anthony New. Stroud: Amberley Publishing, 2013.
A History of Whitby, by Gordon Home. Wakefield: EP Publishing, 1979.
Saints, Scholars and Vikings: An Illustrated History of Whitby, by Colin Waters. Stroud: Tempus, 2004.
“Bede,” by Michael Lapidge, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, ed. H.C.G. Matthew and Brian Harrison (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004).
Rachel Wood, “The Archaeology of Early Medieval Religion in Northumbria,” Medieval Archaeology 56 (2012): 195-212.
Karen Jankulak, “Nuns, Sex, and the Law in Early Medieval England: Hild, Wimborne, and Wilfrid,” Gender & History 28, no. 3 (2016): 675-694.
Alexandra Lester-Makin, “Women and the Anglo-Saxon Church: Sharing a Sacred Space at Whitby Abbey,” Journal of Early Christian Studies 27, no. 4 (2019): 613-638.
Duncan Sayer and Steven Willis, “Beyond the Grave: The Materiality of Death in Early Medieval Britain,” World Archaeology 43, no. 3 (2011): 465-477.
Stephanie A. Glaser, “Holy and Unholy Ground: Whitby Abbey and the Landscape of Anglo-Saxon Spirituality,” Landscape Research 44, no. 1 (2019): 34-49.
Photos:
Whitby Abbey Ruins:
Juliet220, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
James Clark, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Whitby Abbey:
Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Map of Northumbria:
Ben McGarr, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons