Æthelburh of Barking

7th century Anglo-Saxon abbess

Saint

Æthelburg

Statue of Saint Ethelburga (Nathaniel Hitch, 1890s) at All Hallows-by-the-Tower, London[1]

Abbess of Barking
Died| late 7th century
Feast| 11 October

Saint Æthelburh (died after 686) or Ethelburga, founder and first Abbess of the double monastery of Barking, was the sister of Earconwald (also spelled "Erkenwald"), Bishop of London.

## Life

[edit]

The main source for Æthelburh is Bede's Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum which recounts the foundation of Barking, early miracles there, and Æthelburh's death (Book IV, Chapters 6 to 10). Bede describes Æthelburg as "upright in life and constantly planning for the needs of her community".

Some time before he became bishop of London in 675, Earconwold founded a double monastery at Barking for his sister, and a monastery at Chertsey for himself. Barking appears to have already been established by the time of the plague in 664.[2]

St Erkenwald, Saxon Prince, bishop and saint: the brother of Æthelburh

A charter,[3] believed genuine and drafted by Bishop Eorcenwald in the reign of King Sebbi of Essex (reigned c. 664-c. 694), records a grant of lands in Essex by a certain Æthelred to Æthelburh and Barking. This is dated to between 686 and 688.

The 9th century Old English Martyrology records a vision, recounted by a nun of Barking, who saw Æthelburh being drawn up into heaven by golden chains. She was buried at Barking. The Old English Martyrology records her feast day as 11 October. She is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on 11 October.[4] Her successor as abbess was Hildelith.

Ethelburga founded the church of All Hallows Berkyngechirche (now known as All Hallows Barking or All Hallows by the Tower) in the City of London on land given to her by her brother Eorconwald c. 675.

The church of St Ethelburga the Virgin in the City of London is dedicated to her. It survived the Great Fire and the Blitz but was extensively damaged in an IRA attack in 1993; however, it has been restored and is now a centre for international reconciliation.[5] An area near Battersea Park and Albert Bridge was also named after her (Ethelburga Street, the Ethelburga Estate and Ethelburga Primary School in 1968-2000).[6]

Other churches dedicated to Æthelburh include the Grade II listed St Ethelburga's at Great Givendale, near Pocklington in the East Riding of Yorkshire.[7]

Ethelburga is remembered in the Church of England with a commemoration on 11 October.[8]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ward-Jackson, Philip (2003). Public Sculpture of the City of London. Public Sculpture of Britain. Vol. 7\. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. p. 6.
2. ^ "Barking". Kemble. University of Cambridge.
3. ^ "Sawyer 1171".
4. ^ "Ορθόδοξος Συναξαριστής :: Αρχική σελίδα".
5. ^ "Who We Are".
6. ^ Ethelburga Street, SW11 theundergroundmap.com
7. ^ Historic England. "Church of Saint Ethelburgh (1346278)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
8. ^ "The Calendar". The Church of England. Retrieved 8 April 2021.

## External links

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* Æthelburg 3 at Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England

* v
* t
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Saints of Anglo-Saxon England

British / Welsh|

* Aldate of Oxford
* Barloc of Norbury
* Brannoc of Braunton
* Branwalator of Milton
* Credan of Bodmin
* Congar of Congresbury
* Dachuna of Bodmin
* Decuman of Watchet
* Elfin of Warrington
* Ivo of Ramsey
* Judoc of Winchester
* Melorius of Amesbury
* Nectan of Hartland
* Neot of Cornwall
* Patrick of Glastonbury
* Rumon of Tavistock
* Samson of Dol
* Sativola of Exeter

East Anglian|

* Æthelberht of East Anglia
* Æthelburh of Faremoutiers
* Æthelflæd of Ramsey
* Æthelthryth of Ely
* Æthelwine of Lindsey
* Athwulf of Thorney
* Blida of Martham
* Botwulf of Thorney
* Cissa of Crowland
* Cuthbald of Peterborough
* Eadmund of East Anglia
* Eadnoth of Ramsey
* Guthlac of Crowland
* Herefrith of Thorney
* Hiurmine of Blythburgh
* Huna of Thorney
* Pega of Peakirk
* Seaxburh of Ely
* Sigeberht of East Anglia
* Tancred of Thorney
* Torthred of Thorney
* Tova of Thorney
* Walstan of Bawburgh
* Wendreda
* Wihtburh of Ely
* Wulfric of Holme

East Saxon|

* Æthelburh of Barking
* Hildelith of Barking
* Osgyth
* Sæbbi of London

Frisian,
Frankish
and Old Saxon|

* Balthild of Romsey
* Bertha of Kent
* Felix of Dommoc
* Helier of Jersey
* Grimbald of St Bertin
* Monegunda of Watton
* Odwulf of Evesham
* Wulfram of Grantham

Irish and Scottish|

* Aidan of Lindisfarne
* Boisil of Melrose
* Echa of Crayke
* Ultan the Scribe
* Indract of Glastonbury
* Maildub of Malmesbury

Kentish|

* Æbbe of Thanet (Domne Eafe)
* Æthelberht of Kent
* Æthelburh of Kent
* Æthelred of Kent
* Albinus of Canterbury
* Berhtwald of Canterbury
* Deusdedit of Canterbury
* Edburga of Minster-in-Thanet
* Eanswith of Folkestone
* Eormengyth of Thanet
* Mildrith of Thanet
* Nothhelm of Canterbury
* Sigeburh of Thanet

Mercian|

* Ælfnoth of Stowe
* Ælfthryth of Crowland
* Æthelberht of Bedford
* Æthelmod of Leominster
* Æthelred of Mercia
* Æthelwynn of Sodbury
* Aldwyn of Coln
* Beonna of Breedon
* Beorhthelm of Stafford
* Coenwulf of Mercia
* Cotta of Breedon
* Credan of Evesham
* Cyneburh of Castor
* Cyneburh of Gloucester
* Cynehelm of Winchcombe
* Cyneswith of Peterborough
* Eadburh of Bicester
* Eadburh of Pershore
* Eadburh of Southwell
* Eadgyth of Aylesbury
* Eadweard of Maugersbury
* Ealdgyth of Stortford
* Earconwald of London
* Egwin of Evesham
* Freomund of Mercia
* Frithuric of Breedon
* Frithuswith of Oxford
* Frithuwold of Chertsey
* Hæmma of Leominster
* Merefin
* Mildburh of Wenlock
* Mildgyth
* Mildrith of Thanet
* Milred of Worcester
* Oda of Canterbury
* Oswald of Worcester
* Osburh of Coventry
* Regenhere of Northampton
* Rumbold of Buckingham
* Tibba of Ryhall
* Werburgh of Chester
* Wærstan
* Wigstan of Repton
* Wulfhild of Barking

Northumbrian|

* Acca of Hexham
* Æbbe "the Elder" of Coldingham
* Æbbe "the Younger" of Coldingham
* Ælfflæd of Whitby
* Ælfwald of Northumbria
* Æthelburh of Hackness
* Æthelgyth of Coldingham
* Æthelsige of Ripon
* Æthelwold of Farne
* Æthelwold of Lindisfarne
* Alchhild of Middleham
* Alchmund of Hexham
* Alkmund of Derby
* Balthere of Tyningham
* Beda of Jarrow
* Bega of Copeland
* Benedict Biscop
* Bercthun of Beverley
* Billfrith of Lindisfarne
* Bosa of York
* Botwine of Ripon
* Ceadda of Lichfield
* Cedd of Lichfield
* Ceolfrith of Monkwearmouth
* Ceolwulf of Northumbria
* Cuthbert of Durham
* Dryhthelm of Melrose
* Eadberht of Lindisfarne
* Eadfrith of Leominster
* Eadfrith of Lindisfarne
* Eadwine of Northumbria
* Ealdberht of Ripon
* Eanmund
* Eardwulf of Northumbria
* Eata of Hexham
* Ecgberht of Ripon
* Eoda
* Eosterwine of Monkwearmouth
* Hilda of Whitby
* Hyglac
* Iwig of Wilton
* John of Beverley
* Osana of Howden
* Osthryth of Bardney
* Oswald of Northumbria
* Oswine of Northumbria
* Sicgred of Ripon
* Sigfrith of Monkwearmouth
* Tatberht of Ripon
* Wihtberht of Ripon
* Wilfrith of Hexham
* Wilfrith II
* Wilgils of Ripon

Roman|

* Augustine of Canterbury
* Firmin of North Crawley
* Birinus of Dorchester
* Blaise
* Florentius of Peterborough
* Hadrian of Canterbury
* Honorius of Canterbury
* James the Deacon
* Justus of Canterbury
* Laurence of Canterbury
* Mellitus of Canterbury
* Paulinus of York
* Peter of Canterbury
* Theodore of Canterbury

South Saxon|

* Cuthflæd of Lyminster
* Cuthmann of Steyning
* Lewina of Bishopstone

West Saxon|

* Æbbe of Abingdon
* Ælfgar of Selwood
* Ælfgifu of Exeter
* Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury
* Ælfheah of Canterbury
* Ælfheah of Winchester
* Æthelflæd of Romsey
* Æthelgar of Canterbury
* Æthelnoth of Canterbury
* Æthelwine of Athelney
* Æthelwold of Winchester
* Aldhelm of Sherborne
* Benignus of Glastonbury
* Beocca of Chertsey
* Beorhthelm of Shaftesbury
* Beornstan of Winchester
* Beornwald of Bampton
* Centwine of Wessex
* Cuthburh of Wimborn
* Cwenburh of Wimborne
* Dunstan of Canterbury
* Eadburh of Winchester
* Eadgar of England
* Eadgyth of Polesworth
* Eadgyth of Wilton
* Eadweard the Confessor
* Eadweard the Martyr
* Eadwold of Cerne
* Earmund of Stoke Fleming
* Edor of Chertsey
* Evorhilda
* Frithestan of Winchester
* Hædde of Winchester
* Humbert of Stokenham
* Hwita of Whitchurch Canonicorum
* Mærwynn of Romsey
* Margaret of Dunfermline
* Swithhun of Winchester
* Wulfsige of Sherborne
* Wulfthryth of Wilton

Unclear origin|

* Arilda of Oldbury
* Juthwara of Sherbourne
* Rumbold of Mechlin
* Urith of Chittlehampton

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