Hilda

Family: English · Role: abbess · First appears: Book III · Chap. XXIV

Hilda was the daughter of Hereric and sister of Heresuid, who lived under regular discipline in the same monastery. She received the Christian faith and mysteries with Edwin through the preaching of Paulinus, and was visited, loved, and instructed by Aidan and other religious teachers.

Around c. 678, Hilda became abbess of Heruteu. She later built or ordered the monastery at Streanaeshalch and placed it under the same strict communal rule. There she trained Elfled, the daughter of King Oswy, in the monastic life; Elfled later became abbess. Hilda also directed those under her care to study Scripture and practise justice, and five from the monastery—Bosa, Aetla, Oftfor, John, and Wilfrid—afterwards became bishops. She was called “Mother” by those who knew her, and her fame brought amendment and salvation to people living at a distance; this fulfilled the dream of her mother, Bregusuid.

After seven years of sickness, Hilda died around c. 678, having gathered the handmaids of Christ and urged them to preserve the peace of the Gospel. That same night, at the monastery of Hacanos, Begu received a vision revealing Hilda’s death and told the others that “the Abbess Hilda, mother of them all, had departed this life.”