ILDA (HILD), Saint. — Born in Northumbria (England) in 614, died in the monastery of Streaneshalch, where she was abbess, on 17 Nov. 680.
Daughter of the nephew of King Eudinus of Northumbria, she embraced the faith following the preaching of Paulinus of York in 627; at the age of 33 she entered monastic life; after considering reaching her sister Heresuinde in the monastery of Chelles in France, she was detained in her homeland by Bishop Aedan. She was abbess of the double monastery of Hercegò, then of the monastery of Newton Kyme. Built in 658 under her direction, the double monastery (for men and women) of Streaneshach was where she served as abbess until her death. The men’s monastery became a centre of serious ecclesiastical formation, from which many bishops for England emerged. From 674 until her death she endured long illnesses with heroic patience. Feast day: 17 Nov.