On November 19th the Church remembers Hilda of Whitby (614-680) who demonstrated the important role women played in the development of Christianity in the Early English kingdoms. Hilda was of noble birth and brought up in the household of King Edwin of Northumbria. It was not until she was in her thirties that she decided to forsake the more leisurely life of a noblewoman for that of a nun. Under the influence of Aidan of Iona and Lindisfarne, Hilda was persuaded to remain in the north of England and she eventually became Abbess of Whitby.
This was a double monastery containing both monks and nuns and at the head of the community was Abbess Hilda. The monastery had very large estates and, as a result, Hilda not only supervised the monks who led the worship, the nuns who devoted themselves to prayer and contemplation, but she was also responsible for the large number of lay servants and craftsmen who looked after the monastery and its estates.
Amongst the servants in Hilda's time was Caedmon, a herdsman, who, according to the historian, the Venerable Bede, received the gift of song miraculously in a dream and subsequently turned many Bible stories into Old English verse. Known for her piety, her knowledge and wisdom, Hilda also played a pivotal role in the meeting of English church leaders at the monastery at Whitby in 664. At this Synod the crucial decision was made that the church in England should follow Roman ways rather than Celtic ways. Although the discussion was principally about the date of Easter far more significant was the consequent bringing of the church in England into line with the broad development of Western Christendom. Although previously a staunch upholder of Celtic ways, Hilda immediately accepted the decision of the Synod and followed Roman ways thereafter.
Perhaps an example to be followed in present difficulties within our Church 1400 years later - for Hilda the unity of the Church was more important that her own traditions and inclinations. When Hilda died in 680, it was according to Bede 'after a life full of heavenly deeds'.
Richard Allen