St Hild was deeply connected to York and Canterbury through the Synod of Whitby (664). Here’s how it fits:
At that time, the Celtic Church (rooted in Irish/Scottish traditions, especially from Iona and Lindisfarne) celebrated Easter on one date, following their own calendar.
The Roman Church, centred in Canterbury (linked to Rome itself), celebrated Easter on a different date.
This wasn’t just about the calendar — it symbolised two different traditions of Christianity in Britain.
Hild gathered church leaders and scholars together at Whitby Abbey, which she led, to settle the issue. This was remarkable because:
She presided over the council as host and abbess, creating the conditions for dialogue.
She held space for men of huge authority — bishops, kings, and scholars — to debate in her abbey.
Ultimately, the decision went with the Roman calculation of Easter, bringing unity with Canterbury and Rome, which gave the English church consistency and authority.
So yes — Whitby Abbey became the place where the church aligned, and Hild was at the centre of it.
✨ From a Changing Spaces perspective, this is:
A woman leading not just a monastery but a moment of transition for an entire nation’s faith.
The tension between local tradition (Celtic) and wider conformity (Roman).
Her abbey as a meeting ground — a container for reconciliation and decision-making.
listen in for my experience of this unfurling information