Saint Wilfrid

Wilfrid was born in Northumbria in 634. He was educated in the Celtic tradition by Monks in the monastery on Lindisfarne (called Holy Island today) a small island off the Northumberland coast.

As a young man, Wilfrid went to Rome with Benet Biscop and spent time en-route in Lyons (Southern France). When he returned, rather than following the Celtic teaching of the Irish Missionaries under the teachings of Aidan from Iona, he supported the Roman traditions. He was made Abbot of Ripon and then ordained a priest. When Aidan died, the differences between Celtic and Roman traditions and customs began to cause dispute. In 664 a synod was held in St Hilda's Church in Whitby. It settled the question, abolished Celtic customs and established the Roman traditions to be the order of the day.

Wilfrid became Bishop of Lindisfarne and was consecrated in Paris. He remained in France for so long afterwards that St. Chad (one of Aidan's pupils) was appointed Bishop in his place. Wilfrid appealed to St. Theodore of Canterbury before he could take possession of his diocese. He established himself at York, but was opposed many times by secular rulers and also by St. John of Beverley. One dispute in 678 occurred when Theodore tried to divide the large diocese of Lindisfarne/York in two parts. Wilfrid strongly objected to this and appealed to Rome against Archbishop Theodore.

He was successful and became the first English man to take a law suit to the Roman courts. When he returned to Northumberland, however, he was less successful. He was imprisoned by the King of Northumbria, but escaped and fled to Sussex. In this time he carried out Missions to Saxons living in the South. He also carried out a Mission to the people of the Netherlands thus beginning an English Mission to the Germanic people, which was continued by his pupil St. Willibrord.

Wilfrid returned to Northumbria in 686, but was prevented from staying for long. He appealed to Rome again, but had to accept a compromise and became Bishop of Hexam living in his monastery in Ripon. He introduced many Roman customs and Church traditions and reorganised the monastery under the rule of St. Benedict.

Wilfrid died in 709.

 

Content from St Wilfrid's Catholic Church, York

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