New Catholic Dictionary – Saint Wilfrid

mosaic of Saint Wilfrid of York in the Jesuit church in Preston, Lancashire, England; swiped with permission from the Flickr account of Father Lawrence Lew OPArticle

Confessor (634–709), Archbishop of York, born Ripon, England; died Oundle, Northamptonshire. He was educated at the court of King Oswy, and at Lindisfarne, Canterbury, and finally in Rome. Elected Abbot of Ripon, 658, he introduced the Roman rules and practise. As Archbishop of York, he founded many monasteries of the Benedictine Order, and was forced to appeal twice to Rome to prevent the subdivision of his diocese by Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury. During his exile he worked in Sussex and Wessex. He was later reinstated in Northumbria, made Bishop of Hexham, and reoccupied his see at York. Until his death he fought diligently for the rights of the Holy See. Relics at Canterbury. Feast, 12 October.

MLA Citation

  • “Saint Wilfrid”. New Catholic Dictionary. CatholicSaints.Info. 11 November 2019. Web. 3 March 2021. <>