Kyneburga, Kyneswide and Tibba facts for kids

Kyneburga, Kyneswide, and Tibba were important women from the royal family of Mercia in 7th century England. They were known for their strong Christian faith and were later honored as saints.

Kyneburga and Kyneswide: Royal Sisters and Abbesses

Kyneburga (who died around 680 AD) and Kyneswide were sisters. They were the daughters of King Penda of Mercia. King Penda followed the old pagan beliefs. Even though their father was not a Christian, Kyneburga and all her brothers and sisters became Christians.

The historian Bede wrote that King Penda allowed Christianity to be taught in Mercia. He did not stop people from listening to Christian teachings. In fact, he looked down on those who claimed to be Christian but did not live by their faith. He thought they were "contemptible and wretched" for not obeying their God.

Kyneburga married Alhfrith of Deira, who was a co-ruler in Northumbria. He was present at an important meeting called the Synod of Whitby in 664 AD. Later, Kyneburga started an abbey in Castor. This abbey was for both monks and nuns.

Kyneburga became the first abbess, which is like the head of a monastery for women. Her sister Kyneswide and their relative Tibba later joined her there. Kyneswide took over as abbess after Kyneburga. Then, Tibba became the abbess after Kyneswide.

Kyneburga was buried in her church at Castor. However, the bodies of Kyneburga and Kyneswide were later moved to Peterborough Abbey. This abbey is now known as Peterborough Cathedral.

Kyneburga was one of the people who signed the founding document for Burh Abbey in 664 AD. Her brother Wulfhere also signed it. Burh Abbey later became "Peterborough" and was dedicated to Saint Peter. The monks at Peterborough greatly respected Kyneburga as a saint. She is remembered every year on March 6th in old calendars from Peterborough.

Kyneburga died on September 15, 680 AD, and was buried at Castor. People soon began to honor her as a saint. In 963 AD, her body, along with those of her sister Kyneswide and their relative Tibba, was moved to Peterborough. Her remains were later moved to Thorney Abbey. Her feast day is celebrated on March 6th.

Many places are named after Kyneburga. These include a chapel at Peterborough Cathedral and the 12th-century St Kyneburga's parish church in Castor. There is also Lady Conyburrow's Way, Kimberwell spring in Bedfordshire, and the villages of Kimberley, Norfolk and Kimberley, West Yorkshire.

Tibba: The Saint of Falconers

Tibba is known as the patron saint of falconers, who train birds of prey. It is believed she lived in Ryhall, Rutland, during the 7th century. She was buried there. In the 11th century, her relics (her remains or belongings) were moved to Peterborough Abbey. This was done by Abbot Ælfsige.

Legend says that Saint Tibba was a niece of King Penda. You can still see the remains of a small hermitage (a place where a hermit lives) linked to the saint at Ryhall church.

At Ryhall, there was a special shrine and a holy well dedicated to Saint Tibba. A holy well is a spring or well believed to have special powers.

Moving the Relics

The relics of Kyneburga, Kyneswide, and Tibba were first buried in Castor and Ryhall. In the 10th century, Peterborough Abbey bought their relics. This was part of a plan by Abbot Aelfsige of Peterborough to collect many relics for the abbey. Sadly, their relics at the abbey were lost or destroyed during the English Reformation.