Cuthburh | |
|---|---|
| Abbess, Queen | |
| Died | 31 August 725 |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Anglican Communion Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Majorshrine | Wimborne Minster |
| Feast | 31 August |
| Cuthburh | |
|---|---|
| Queen consort of Northumbria Abbess ofWimborne Minster | |
 Her Abbey, nowWimborne Minster | |
| Died | 31 August 725 |
| Spouse | Aldfrith of Northumbria |
| Issue | Osred I of Northumbria |
| House | House of Wessex (by birth) |
| Father | Cenred of Wessex |
| Religion | Christianity |
SaintCuthburh orCuthburg,Cuthburga (Old English:Cūþburh; died 31 August 725) was the first Abbess ofWimborne Minster.[1][2][3] She was the sister ofIne, King ofWessex and was married to theNorthumbrian kingAldfrith.
Cuthburh was the daughter ofCenred of Wessex. In addition to her brother Ine, she also had a brother Ingild, who was an ancestor ofAlfred the Great, and a sisterCwenburh. Her marriage to Aldfrith allied him with Ine, one of the most powerful kings inAnglo-Saxon England. Cuthburh was Aldfrith's only known wife. Aldfrith had at least two sons,Osred and Offa, it is believed Cuthburh was the mother of Osred, Offa it is not certain.[4] It is also believed they were the parents of a daughterOsana, who would later be known as Saint Osana.[5][6]
According to a report byFlorence of Worcester, written long afterwards, at some time before Aldfrith's death in 705 he and Cuthburh "renounced connubial intercourse for the love of God". Following this, Cuthburh entered AbbessHildelith's nunnery atBarking Abbey.[7] Cuthburh is traditionally associated with the "Cuthburh" mentioned in the dedication ofAldhelm's treatiseDe virginitate.[8] It is thought that she was in some way related to Aldhelm.[7] After Aldfrith's death, around 705, Cuthburh andCwenburh established a double-monastery in her brother's kingdom ofWessex, atWimborne, Dorset.[7]
She is described as austere, and she communicated with prelates through a little hatch in thenunnery at Wimborne. AmongSaint Boniface's surviving letters is an anonymous account of a vision of Abbess Cuthburh in Hell.[9]
Cuthburh died on 31 August 725 at Wimborne and is said to be buried under the wall of the chancel.[10]
In 1538, Wimborne Minster being in need of repair, the guardians of the church wroteThomas Cromwell for permission to melt down the silver reliquary containing Cuthburh's head. As a few years later, the tower collapsed, it is surmised that the reliquary was confiscated to the King's use. It is not mentioned what then happened to her head.[11]
Thefeast day associated with her is 31 August.[7]
