20 September 2026 Of all the things which happened at the monastery under the rule of Abbess Hilda, the most dramatic was the Synod of Whitby, called by Oswy, King of Northumbria in 664AD. Whilst the King was brought up in the Celtic traditions of Iona, his wife was brought up in the Roman traditions of Augustine. Things came to a head in 663AD. Oswy was celebrating Easter according to the Celtic Church but his wife was observing Lent according to the Roman Church. The Synod was called. Several differences emerged between the two traditions – style of tonsure, the date of Easter, the validity of holy orders. Colman, Bishop of Lindisfarne, put forward the Celtic cause. Wilfrid, Abbot of Ripon, put forward the Roman cause. Colman wasn’t a match for Wilfrid who proved to be more persuasive. He traced his authority back to Peter. ‘Although your Fathers were holy men,’ said Wilfrid, ’do you imagine that they, a few men in a corner of a remote island, are to be preferred before...
Posts
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
19 September 2026 Of all the people whose gifts were brought to birth through Hilda’s extraordinary leadership at Whitby, Caedmon, the herdsman, must be the most extraordinary. In his old age, he knew nothing of poetry nor music. He was shy of the harp and didn’t participate in communal singing on feast days. One night, he was in the stable looking after the beasts. He had a dream. ‘Caedmon,’ said man, ‘sing me a song.’ Caedmon was surprised. ‘What should I sing about?’ he asked. ‘Sing about the creation of all things.’ And this is his song: How must we praise The guardian of heaven’s realm The Creator’s might And his mind’s thought The glorious works of the Father How of every wonder He the Lord Eternal Laid the foundation. When he awoke, Caedmon remembered everything and added more verses to his song. He told his superior who took him to see Hilda. She invited him to sing ‘in the presence of many learned men, so that a decision might be rea...
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
18 September 2026 Bede makes four important points about Abbess Hilda’s ministry at Whitby. Firstly, the monks and nuns under her supervision were required to make ‘a thorough study of the Scriptures’. It became renowned as a school of theology. Secondly, Hilda established a rule in which everything was held in common. No one was rich. No one was in need. They followed the example of the Apostles as recorded in St. Luke’s book of the Acts. Thirdly, everyone was encouraged to occupy themselves in good works and to cultivate a virtuous life – ‘righteousness, mercy, purity … peace and charity’. Fourthly, Hilda’s wisdom attracted many people to Whitby. Bede writes, ‘So great was her prudence that not only ordinary folk, but kings and princes used to come and ask her advice in their difficulties and take it.’ As a consequence, five of the monks who lived in her monastery at Whitby became bishops – Bosa, Aetla, Oftfor, John and Wilfrid. ‘All of them men of outstanding merit a...
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
17 September 2026 Many years ago, we visited Whitby. I remember the magnificent ruins of the abbey and the parish church, the clifftops, the rugged coastline and the sea. Our children don’t remember much of this. They associated Whitby with Bram Stoker and his novel, ‘Dracula’. But, for me, it was the church and the fascinating story of Aidan, Hilda and Bede which preceded the vampire, Stoker’s visit to Whitby and even the ancient ruins of the abbey. For Hilda was born in 614 AD and died n 680AD at the age of sixty-six. Her life has been recorded by the historian, Bede. Bede was only seven years old when Hilda died. When he grew up, he became a priest and was ordained by John of Beverley, one of the monks who had lived in the monastery under Abbess Hilda. His history includes a chapter about Abbess Hilda. It was written in 731AD, four years before he died. By this time, Bede was fifty-nine years old. Hilda had been dead for fifty-two years. Memories were still fresh. His ...
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
16 September 2026 Some ministers are like fire-crackers. Others offer what Hovda calls ‘a running commentary which covers the ritual action like a heavy and almost impenetrable syrup.’ He reflects, ‘Presiding in liturgy … requires a kind of modest prayerfulness that is heavy on awe and mystery, light on answers and recipes.’ The Kirk is strong on what it doesn’t know about God. The Word of God is contained in the Scriptures. Office-bearers have ‘liberty of opinion’. There is a silence between Word and Scripture, substance and the Faith, broken bread and the Body of Christ. God is there in what RS Thomas calls the ‘interstices in our knowledge’. Our life has been constrained by the ’Five Marks of Mission’ which say nothing about worship. They have become a measure of growth - success and failure. But growth belongs to God, as Paul says and in the parable of the seed growing secretly, the farmer is puzzled. Jesus says, ‘He know...
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
15 September 2026 In the Nordic chapel at Carberry built in 1965, two-thirds of the church is outside in the parkland. A huge wooden cross is located at what could be the high altar. The East side is full of glass. The West has Renaissance balusters reminiscent of the chapel in Falkland Palace. Surprisingly, Colin Day repurposed eighteenth century box pews. Young people loved playing with the doors until the service started, the lights were dimmed and the double-whammy of the illuminated cross - joyful play to awesome silence and stillness. Day knew that to be contemporary you needed to be rooted in your past. It is a rich landscape which gives perspective and depth to all our new initiatives. The interplay of past and present, inside and out, the striking symbolism of a wooden cross benefit from silence and stillness.