Hilda of Whitby, St.
HILDA OF WHITBY, ST.
Foundress of Whitby; b. 614; d. 680. The daughter of Hereric and grandniece of King edwin of northumbria, Hilda was baptized by paulinus of york on Easter Day, 627. When 33 years old she dedicated herself to the monastic life under St. aidan's guidance. She became abbess of a monastery at Hartlepool and later founded the double monastery at whitby (657) where, at the famous Council of Whitby (664), the Northumbrian Celtic Church accepted the Roman discipline. She trained many young scholars, five of whom afterward became bishops. She was also responsible for recognizing and cultivating the gift of caedmon, the first English Christian poet. A woman of great devotion and ability, she exercised much influence in the Church until her death, which followed a long illness. She was succeeded by St. elfleda. Her relics disappeared after the Vikings destroyed Whitby in 875. bede is the main authority for her life.
Feast: Nov. 17.
Bibliography: e. venables, The Dictionary of National Biography from the Earliest Times to 1900, 63 v. (London 1885–1900) 9:832–833. bede, Histoire Ecclesiastique 4.23. n. moorsom, Saint Hilda of Whitby: Historical Notes (Middlesborough 1970).
[b. colgrave]