Wilfrid facts for kids

Wilfrid (born around 633 – died 709 or 710) was an important English bishop and saint. He was born into a noble family in Northumbria, a powerful kingdom in early England. As a teenager, he decided to dedicate his life to the Church.

Wilfrid studied in several important places, including Lindisfarne, Canterbury, Francia (modern-day France), and Rome. Around 660, he returned to Northumbria and became the leader, or abbot, of a new monastery at Ripon.

In 664, Wilfrid became famous at the Synod of Whitby, a big meeting where he argued for the Roman way of calculating the date of Easter. His speech convinced the king, Oswiu, to adopt the Roman method. This success led to Wilfrid being chosen as Bishop of Northumbria. He chose to be made a bishop in Gaul (France) because he felt there were no properly consecrated bishops in England at that time.

Wilfrid faced many challenges. He was expelled from his position more than once but kept fighting for his beliefs and the Roman Church's practices. He founded monasteries, built churches, and helped spread Christianity, especially in areas that were still pagan. After his death, he was honored as a saint.

Who Was Wilfrid?

Wilfrid was a key figure in the early English Church. He lived during a time when England was made up of many small kingdoms. Christianity was still quite new in some of these areas. Wilfrid played a big role in making sure the English Church followed the customs and rules of the Roman Church, rather than the older Celtic Christian traditions.

Wilfrid's Early Life and Education

Wilfrid was born in Northumbria around 633. His family was likely noble. When he was about 14, he left home after a disagreement with his stepmother. He went to the court of King Oswiu, where Queen Eanflæd became his supporter.

The Queen sent Wilfrid to study at Lindisfarne, a monastery on an island. There, he learned many religious texts by heart. After a few years, he went to Canterbury in Kent, staying with the Queen's relatives.

Journeys to Rome and Gaul

Wilfrid then traveled to Rome with Benedict Biscop, another important churchman. This was one of the first known trips to Rome by English people. In Rome, Wilfrid learned the Roman way of calculating Easter and how to collect holy relics. He made a good friend, Boniface Consiliarius, there.

On his way back, Wilfrid stayed in Lyon, France, with Archbishop Annemund. He spent about three years there, learning about Frankish church practices. This included using Frankish builders for churches and learning about the Rule of Saint Benedict, which guided how monks should live.

Becoming Abbot of Ripon

Around 658, Wilfrid returned to Northumbria. King Cenwalh of Wessex recommended him to Alhfrith, King Oswiu's son, as someone who knew a lot about Roman customs. Alhfrith gave Wilfrid a new monastery at Ripon.

Wilfrid introduced the Rule of Saint Benedict at Ripon. He claimed he was the first in England to make a monastery follow this rule. Soon after, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Agilbert.

The Synod of Whitby

What Was the Easter Controversy?

The Roman Church and the churches in Britain and Ireland (often called "Celtic" churches) used different ways to calculate the date of Easter. In Northumbria, King Oswiu followed the Celtic method, but his wife and son followed the Roman one. This meant that parts of the royal court were fasting for Lent while others were celebrating Easter!

To solve this problem, King Oswiu called a church council at Whitby Abbey in 664. This meeting is known as the Synod of Whitby.

Wilfrid's Role at Whitby

Wilfrid was a key speaker for the Roman side at the synod. He argued strongly that the Roman way of dating Easter should be used. He even said that those who didn't follow the Roman system were committing a sin.

Wilfrid's speech helped convince King Oswiu to adopt the Roman method. This was a big victory for the Roman Church in England. Many monks and clergy who couldn't accept this decision left Northumbria.

Wilfrid's Time as Bishop

Becoming Bishop of York

After the Synod of Whitby, Wilfrid became a very important church leader in Northumbria. He was chosen to be a bishop about a year later. He refused to be made a bishop in England because he didn't think the English bishops were properly consecrated. So, he traveled to France to be consecrated by Bishop Agilbert.

Wilfrid's return to Northumbria was delayed. When he finally came back, he found that another bishop, Ceadda, had been appointed in his place. This might have happened because Wilfrid's supporter, Alhfrith, had rebelled against his father, King Oswiu.

A Favorable Outcome

For three years, Wilfrid served as abbot of Ripon. He also performed bishop duties in other kingdoms like Mercia and Kent. In 669, a new Archbishop of Canterbury, Theodore, arrived. Theodore decided that Ceadda's appointment was not proper. He removed Ceadda and finally installed Wilfrid as Bishop of York. This was a big moment, as Wilfrid was the first Saxon to hold this important position.

Wilfrid spent the next nine years building churches, including a famous one at Hexham, and managing his diocese. He also kept control over his monasteries at Ripon and Hexham.

Managing the Diocese

Wilfrid was considered the "bishop of the Northumbrian peoples." His diocese covered a large area north of the Humber River. He also tried to extend his influence into the Pictish kingdom.

Wilfrid was a strong supporter of using music in church services. He brought a singing master from Kent to teach his clergy the Roman style of church music. He also introduced the Rule of Saint Benedict to his monasteries, likely the first to do so in England. He was one of the first bishops to keep written records of gifts given to his churches.

Wilfrid also advised Queen Æthelthryth, King Ecgfrith's wife. She gave him land at Hexham, where he built a church using stones from the old Roman town of Corbridge. He also repaired the cathedral in York, fixing its roof and adding glass windows.

Wilfrid worked hard to fight pagan practices and spread Christianity. He traveled throughout his diocese, baptizing people and consecrating new churches. He was known for dressing his household and servants in fine clothes, like royalty. He also educated young men for both church and non-church careers.

Wilfrid's Expulsions and Appeals

Disagreements with the King

Around 677 or 678, Wilfrid had a big disagreement with King Ecgfrith and was expelled from his position. One reason for this was Wilfrid's encouragement of Queen Æthelthryth to become a nun. She had given land for Hexham Abbey, which might have been part of the queen's personal lands that the new queen wanted back.

Archbishop Theodore used this situation to divide Wilfrid's very large diocese into smaller ones. New bishoprics were created at York, Hexham, and Lindisfarne. Wilfrid was unhappy because the new bishops were often those who had supported the "Celtic" Easter dating.

Appealing to the Pope

Wilfrid traveled to Rome to appeal against the decisions of Theodore and King Ecgfrith. He was the first Englishman to challenge a royal or church decision by asking the Pope for help. On his way, he stopped in Frisia (modern-day Netherlands), where he tried to convert the pagan people there.

Pope Agatho held a meeting in 679. He ruled that Wilfrid should be restored to his position and get his monasteries back. However, the new dioceses would remain separate. Wilfrid also got the right for his monasteries at Ripon and Hexham to be directly overseen by the Pope, protecting them from local bishops.

Wilfrid returned to England in 680 with the Pope's decree. But King Ecgfrith refused to follow it. Instead, he imprisoned Wilfrid briefly and then exiled him.

Missions in Sussex

Wilfrid spent the next five years in Selsey, in Sussex, which was still pagan. He preached to the people and converted them to Christianity. He also founded Selsey Abbey on land given to him by King Æthelwealh of Sussex.

Bede, a famous historian, wrote that Wilfrid helped the people of Sussex by teaching them how to fish. He also said that when Wilfrid arrived, a long drought ended, and rain began to fall as he baptized converts.

Wilfrid also advised King Cædwalla of Wessex, who later invaded Sussex. Cædwalla became a Christian and confirmed the land grant to Wilfrid. Wilfrid even went to the Isle of Wight, which was still pagan, and helped convert its inhabitants.

During this time, Wilfrid made peace with Archbishop Theodore. Theodore even wished for Wilfrid to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

Final Return and Death

Return to Northumbria

In 686, after King Ecgfrith died in battle, Wilfrid was called back to Northumbria. Archbishop Theodore wrote to the new king, Aldfrith, and others, suggesting Wilfrid's return. Aldfrith agreed, and Wilfrid returned to the north. However, he did not get back his entire old bishopric; Hexham and Lindisfarne remained separate sees.

Wilfrid lived at Ripon and for a time managed the see of Lindisfarne. But in 691, new quarrels arose with King Aldfrith over land and the division of dioceses. Wilfrid left Northumbria again and went to Mercia.

Time in Mercia

In Mercia, Wilfrid served as a bishop with the permission of King Æthelred. He also helped with missionary efforts to the Frisians, continuing the work he had started earlier. He supported Willibrord, a monk from Ripon, who had great success converting people in Frisia.

In 695, Wilfrid was present when the body of Queen Æthelthryth was moved at Ely Abbey. He had been her spiritual advisor and helped her become a nun. Her body was found not to have decayed, which led to her being declared a saint.

Around 700, Wilfrid appealed to Pope Sergius I about his expulsion from York. The Pope sent the issue back to a council in England. In 702, a council at Austerfield decided that Wilfrid should lose all his monasteries except Ripon and stop performing bishop duties. Wilfrid appealed to Rome again, and his opponents even excommunicated him.

Final Return to Northumbria

On his way to Rome, Wilfrid visited Willibrord in Frisia. Pope John VI held a council that declared King Aldfrith should follow the earlier papal orders to restore Wilfrid. The Pope also ordered another council in Britain to settle the matter.

King Aldfrith died soon after Wilfrid returned to England. The new king, Eadwulf, at first ordered Wilfrid to stay out of Northumbria. But Eadwulf's reign was short. When Aldfrith's son, Osred, became king, Wilfrid became his spiritual advisor. In 706, Wilfrid was finally restored to Ripon and Hexham. He continued to perform bishop duties at Hexham until his death.

Wilfrid's Impact

Wilfrid died in 709 or 710 at the age of 75, during a visit to Oundle. He was buried near the altar of his church in Ripon. He left large sums of money to his monasteries, which helped them gain royal favor.

Soon after his death, a book called Vita Sancti Wilfrithi (or Life of Saint Wilfrid) was written by Stephen of Ripon. This was one of the first biographies written by someone who knew the person in England. It aimed to show Wilfrid as a saintly man.

Legacy as a Saint

Wilfrid's feast day is celebrated on 12 October or 24 April. After his death, people began to honor his body as a holy object, and miracles were said to have happened where the water used to wash his body was discarded. A cult dedicated to him grew at Ripon.

Later, his relics (holy remains) were moved to Canterbury Cathedral. Even after the Norman Conquest, people continued to honor Wilfrid. Many churches were dedicated to him. He is honored in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican Churches. He is usually shown as a bishop preaching, baptizing, or holding a staff.

Builder and Patron of Arts

Wilfrid was one of the first bishops to bring relics of saints back from Rome. He was a strong supporter of Benedictine monasticism, believing it would help improve the Church. He built impressive churches at Ripon and Hexham, using stone from Hadrian's Wall. These churches were built in a style similar to those in Europe and Rome.

The crypts (underground rooms) at Ripon and Hexham are unusual and may have been designed to look like the Roman catacombs Wilfrid saw on his travels. These crypts still exist today. He also brought glassmakers from Europe to create glazed windows for his churches.

Wilfrid also ordered beautiful items for his churches, like altar cloths made of silk woven with gold, and a special gospel book with purple pages and gold lettering, enclosed in a gold cover with gems.

Monastic Network

Wilfrid's network of monasteries spread across several English kingdoms. These included Hexham, Ripon, Selsey, and Oundle. He traveled between them with a large group of followers. He made many friends and contacts not only in England but also in France and Italy. Nobles would send their sons to him for education.

Wilfrid was very good at raising money and acquiring land for his churches and monasteries from the kings he knew. He was also known for attracting support from powerful women, especially queens, like Queen Eanflæd and Queen Æthelthryth.

His monasteries, especially Hexham, helped mix the Celtic and Roman Christian traditions in Northumbria. This led to a great period of learning and missionary work. Scholars like Bede and Alcuin came from Northumbrian monasteries influenced by Wilfrid. Missionaries inspired by him went from Northumbria to Europe, converting pagans in Germany and other places.

Historians have different opinions about Wilfrid. Some say he was not a humble man and loved grand displays. Others say his many appeals to Rome were to protect his network of monasteries. He was certainly one of the most important church leaders of his time, helping to establish Christianity in Sussex and attempting to do so in Frisia.

Images for kids

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  Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in the late 7th century

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  7th-century crypt at Hexham monastery, where Wilfrid may have deposited any relics he brought back from the continent

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  King Oswiu of Northumbria's family tree

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  Wulfhere of Mercia's family tree

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  Map showing the location of Selsey

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  Map showing monasteries and bishoprics in Northumbria around 670. Bishoprics are underlined.

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  Later engraving of a picture commissioned in 1519 showing Cædwalla confirming a grant of land, at Selsey, to Wilfrid

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  Wilfrid (right), with saints Cuthbert (centre) and Aidan (left), depicted in a stained-glass window in the church of St John Lee near Acomb in Northumberland; Hexham Abbey is nearby.