Hildelith of Barking

Saint Hildelith of Barking (Hildilid) was abbess of Barking Abbey in England around the year 700, of foreign origin, a princess according to tradition. She became a nun in France, either at Chelles or at Faremoutiers-⁠en-⁠Brie. Bishop Earconwald of London summoned her to England to instruct his sister Æthelburh, abbess of the monastery he had founded at Barking. After Æthelburh, Hildelith succeeded her as abbess (after 692) and was known for her wisdom and learning. Saint Bede speaks of her long rule, of her translation of the bones of saints into the church of Saint Mary, and of a miraculous cure of a blind man in her time. She was abbess until about 700 and perhaps died about 725 at a great age; Saint Boniface mentions her in a letter of 716. She is a saint of the undivided Church, commemorated on 24 March (new style; 6 April in the old style).