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 the universal church of Christ throughout the world? And even if you Columba … was a saint potent in miracles, can he take precedence before the most blessed Prince of the Apostles?’

King Oswy ruled in favour of Wilfrid for one good reason. It was Peter and not Columba who held the keys of the Kingdom. ‘Otherwise,’ Bede reports him as saying, ‘When I come to the gates of heaven, they may be no one to open them, because he who holds the keys has turned away.’

Afterwards, Colman withdrew from Lindisfarne and returned to Iona before travelling west to Ireland. Hilda, who supported the Celtic traditions, accepted the decision of the Synod with good grace. Wilfrid was triumphant but not for long. You can read for yourself what happened to him and his loss of status and power.