The Abbess in Medieval Times

Posted by Rachel Bellerby May 26, 2008

Hilda of Whitby is a sixth century abbess who left her position as the niece of one of England’s kings, to live her life as a nun. The contrast between life at the royal court, with every comfort provided, and living a religious life of prayer and sacrifice must have been marked.

Yet, in entering a monastery, Hilda wasn’t giving up her privileged position, she was actually further extending the influence of her family. From the start, she was given a position of leadership and within a few years of entering monastic life, she was running a double monastery of monks and nuns.

Hilda’s advice was sought by important people from around the country and her influence was far-reaching. She certainly wasn’t locked away from real life; her monastery at Whitby employed dozens of lay-workers and owned large tracts of land in the surrounding countryside. She was a major employer and a figure of influence.

The fact that Hilda was mentioned by Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People means that she was seen as an important figure in medieval life. Aside from queens and princesses, we know so little about the lives of medieval women. Hilda’s life may not have been typical of the lot of ordinary women in the Middle Ages, but she does demonstrate that it was possible for women to hold power and influence during medieval times.