St. Wilfrid the Younger

Feastday: April 29
Death: 746

Benedictine abbot and bishop of York, England. A monk and disciple of St. John of Beverley, he studied at Whitby Abbey and received ordination. He became John's chaplain when John was named bishop of York, and received appointment as abbot of the cathedral community in the city. Soon after, he was appointed John's coadjutor and succeeded to the see atYork at his benefactor's passing in 721. He eventually retired to a monastery, most likely Ripon, where he died.

8th-century Bishop of York and saint For other uses, see Wilfred (disambiguation). For other uses, see Wilfried (disambiguation).

Wilfrid II (died on 29 April in either 745 or 746), name also spelled Wilfrith, also known as Wilfrid the Younger, was the last Bishop of York, as the see was converted to an archbishopric during the time of his successor. In the 10th century, two different groups claim to have taken the relics of an earlier Wilfrid from Ripon; most likely one party took those of Wilfrid the Younger. The younger Wilfrid's feast is attested in the Calendar of Winchcombe and later martyrologies, though he does not seem to have had a widespread or popular veneration.

Life

Wilfrid was a monk at Whitby and studied there when Hilda was abbess. He was consecrated abbot of the cathedral community in York during 718, and in 718 was consecrated as coadjutor bishop to John of Beverley.

Wilfrid was described as a very holy man, and interested in education. He embellished York Minster during his time, having silver vessels made for use at the altar and having the altar and the crosses covered with gold and silver leaf.

Wilfrid resigned the bishopric in 732, or was deposed, devoting the last portion of his life to solitude and prayer in a now-unknown monastery. He died on 29 April in either 745 or 746, and was buried at Ripon, but it may have been his body that was later translated to Canterbury in the mistaken belief that it was that of the earlier Wilfrid. The younger Wilfrid is considered a saint, with his feast day being 29 April. However, he was never the object of strong cult, and only occasional mentions of him occur in martyrologies.

Citations

1. ^ Lapidge "Wilfrid II" Blackwell Encyclopedia of Anglo-Saxon England
2. ^ Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 224
3. ^ Walsh A New Dictionary of Saints p. 624
4. ^ St. Wilfrid the Younger – Catholic Online
5. ^ Blair "Handlist of Anglo-Saxon Saints" Local Saints and Local Churches p. 560
6. ^ Farmer Oxford Dictionary of Saints p. 538