Wilfrid
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Wilfrid (c. 634 - April 24, 709) was an English bishop and saint.
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[edit] Life
[edit] Early life
He was born of good parentage in Northumbria. When serving in King Oswiu's court, he attracted the notice of the queen, Eanfled who, fostering his inclination for a religious life, placed him under the care of an old noble, Cudda, now a monk at Lindisfarne. Later on Eanfled enabled him to visit Rome in the company of Benedict Biscop and Acca. At Lyon Wilfrid's pleasing features and quick intelligence made Annemund, the archbishop, desire to adopt him and marry him to his niece. Resisting his offers, the youth went on to Rome, received the papal benediction, and then, in accordance with his promise, returned to Lyon, where he stayed for three years, till the murder of his patron, whose fate the executioners would not let him share. On his return home in 658, Oswiu's son Alchfrith gave him a monastery at Ripon, and, before long, Agilbert, bishop of the Gewissæ, or West Saxons, ordained him priest.
[edit] Whitby and York
He was probably already regarded as the leading exponent of the Roman discipline in England when his speech at the council of Whitby determined the overthrow of the Celtic party (664). About a year later he was consecrated to the see of York, not, however, in Northumbria, since he refused consecration at the hands of the Celtic Church, but at Compiègne, Agilbert being now bishop of Paris. On his return journey he narrowly escaped the pagan wreckers of Sussex, and only reached his own country to find Ceadda (St Chad) installed in his see of York. For three years (665–668) he ruled his monastery at Ripon in peace, though acting as bishop in Mercia and Kent during vacancies in sees there. On the arrival of Theodore in 669, newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, he was restored to his see, and there spent nine years of ceaseless activity, especially in building churches, including the monastery at Hexham.
[edit] Expulsion
In 678, in the words of Bede:
- a dissension broke out between King Egfrid and the most reverend prelate, Wilfrid, who was driven from his see, and two bishops substituted in his stead, to preside over the nation of the Northumbrians, namely, Bosa, to preside over the nation of the Deiri, with his seat in York; and Eata over that of the Bernicians, with his see in the church of Hexham, or else Lindisfarne; both of them promoted to the episcopal dignity from a society of monks. With them also was Edhed ordained bishop in the province of Lindsey, which King Egfrid had only just conquered, having overcome and vanquished Wulfhere; and this was the first bishop of its own which that province had.... Before Edhed, Sexwulf was bishop as well of that province as of the Mercians and Midland Angles; so that, when expelled from Lindsey, he continued in the government of those provinces. Edhed, Bosa, and Eata, were ordained at York by Archbishop Theodore; who also, three years after the departure of Wilfrid, added two bishops to their number; Tumbert, in the church of Hexham, Eata still continuing in that of Lindisfarne; and Trumwine in the province of the Picts which at that time was subject to the English. Edhed returning from Lindsey, because Ethelred had recovered that province, was placed by him over the church of Ripon.
Wilfrid went to Rome in 679 to appeal Theodore's decision. Pope Agatho held a synod (October, 679) where he ordered his restoration. Wilfrid must have been in Austrasia at this time, because according to his biographer Eddius Stephanus, Wilfrid left Austrasia after the death of Dagobert II, in mortal danger from the supporters of Duke Ebroin. In 686, Wilfrid was finally recalled to York.
King Ecgfrith refused to obey the demand to restore Wilfrid and imprisoned him. After this, he took refuge in Sussex, preaching, converting, founding Selsey Abbey and possibly baptising St Cuthman. In 691, the subdivision issue arose once more, and Wilfrid left the area for the midlands.
[edit] Resignation and death
In 703, he resigned his post as bishop, and retired to the monastery at Ripon, where he lived in prayer and penitence until his death at Oundle, Northamptonshire, in 709.
His feast day is October 12.
[edit] See also
- Eddius Stephanus, Wilfrid's biographer
[edit] External links
[edit] Reference
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
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| Preceded by: Chad of Mercia |
Bishop of York 664–678 |
Succeeded by: Bosa of York |
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