Trumwine of Abercorn facts for kids

Trumwine (Latin: Trumuinus) was an important religious leader from a long time ago. He was a Bishop in the ancient Northumbrian kingdom. He was the only bishop ever for the Picts who lived in a place called Abercorn.

Who Was Trumwine?

Trumwine lived in the 7th century. He was good friends with a very famous saint named St. Cuthbert.

Becoming a Bishop

In the year 681, a king named Ecgfrith of Northumbria ruled Northumbria. At that time, a very important church leader named Theodore of Tarsus, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury, chose Trumwine to be the "Bishop of the Picts."

This meant Trumwine was in charge of the church for the Picts who lived north of the River Forth. These Picts were under the rule of the Northumbrian kingdom. The Archbishop was also changing how the church was organized in Northumbria. He split other church areas, like the Bishopric of Hexham and the Bishopric of Lindisfarne.

Life After the Battle

A big battle happened in 685 called the Battle of Nechtansmere. King Ecgfrith was defeated and died in this battle. After this, Trumwine and the monks who worked with him had to leave Abercorn.

Retreat to Whitby

Trumwine went to live at a monastery in Whitby. A monastery is a place where monks or nuns live and worship. This monastery was led by Ælflæd, who was King Ecgfrith’s sister. She had taken over from another famous leader, St. Hild.

After the battle, the Anglo-Saxons (people from Northumbria) were pushed out of Southern Pictland. Because of this, the church in Abercorn was closed, and Trumwine's role as Bishop of the Picts ended.

Trumwine and Bede

Later in his life, after 685, Trumwine met with a famous historian named Bede. Bede wrote a book called Life of Saint Cuthbert. Trumwine was one of the people Bede talked to for his book. Trumwine even shared a story about Saint Cuthbert's childhood. He said Cuthbert himself had told him the story.

Trumwine was buried in Saint Peter's church in Whitby.