#102- ST HILD AND HER POWER UNKNOWN TO MANY

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