Hilda of Whitby (also known as Saint Hilda of Whitby, l. 614-680 CE) was the founder and abbess of the monastery at Whitby, Kingdom of Northumbria, Britain. She was a Northumbrian princess who converted to Christianity with the rest of the court of her great-uncle, King Edwin of Deira (r. 616-633 CE), when she was 13. She was raised at Edwin's court in the tradition of Roman Catholicism, but at the age of 33 became an adherent of Celtic Christianity, tutored in the faith by Aidan of the monastery of Lindisfarne, and was abbess at Hartlepool Abbey before founding the monastery at Whitby.
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Definition
Timeline
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614 - 680Life of Hilda of Whitby.
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616 - 633Hilda of Whitby and her sister Hereswith raised at the court of King Edwin of Northumbria.
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627Hilda of Whitby converts to Christianity along with Edwin's court.
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633 - 647Hilda of Whitby in exile in Kent following Edwin's death.
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647Hilda of Whitby returns to Northumbria, establishes convent on River Wear.
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649Hilda of Whitby is Abbess of Hartlepool Abbey.
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657Hilda of Whitby, granted 1200 acres by King Oswiu of Northumbria, founds Whitby Abbey.
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664Hilda of Whitby hosts and presides over the Synod of Whitby and establishes Roman Catholicism in Britain.
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679Hilda of Whitby founds convent at Hackness.
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c. 680Hilda of Whitby dies at the monastery she founded at age 66.
