Hilda of Whitby

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:4-6

November 18 is the date set aside in our church calendar to celebrate Hilda of Whitby, who was born in Northumbria, England in 614. In 627, at the age of 13, she was baptized. Hilda decided to enter monastic life when she was 33 years old. After some time, she was appointed the Abbess of Hartlepool and then later she founded the abbey at Whitby. At Whitby, Hilda was the leader of two communities that existed side by side – one for nuns and one for monks. She watched over both groups, insuring they lived in obedience to her rule of justice, devotion, chastity, peace and charity. Because of her wisdom and good sense, she was sought out by kings and other leaders seeking advice.^[i] During that time, division grew amongst the churches of England over whether to follow the traditions of the Celtic Christians or Roman Christians. Those divisions centered around determining the date of Easter and other matters. The Synod of Whitby met at Hilda’s abbey in 663 to determine which traditions England would follow. Although Hilda favored the Celtic traditions, when the Synod chose to follow the Roman traditions, she was obedient to the decision and she worked to encourage peaceful acceptance of that decision.^[ii]

Hilda was a wise and devoted Christian leader. She led both men and women monastics, advised Kings and other powerful world leaders, and worked for peace when there was division. She truly lived into the quote from the letter to the Ephesians, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” We can learn from Hilda, sometimes called a “Peacemaker,” that it is okay to disagree with one another on matters of practice and still be of one heart, faithfully following Jesus.

Collect for Hilda of Whitby

O God of peace, by whose grace the abbess Hilda was endowed with gifts of justice, prudence, and strength to rule as a wise mother over the nuns and monks of her household: Raise up these gifts in us, that we, following her example and prayers, may build up one another in love to the benefit of your Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.^[iii]

[i] (Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018)

[ii] http://satucket.com/lectionary/Hilda_Whitby.htm accessed 11/3/2025

[iii] (Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018)