Early Life and Education
Wilfrid was born into an Anglo-Saxon noble family in Northumbria, a kingdom that covered much of what is now northern England and parts of southern Scotland. He was likely born around 634 AD, in what is now considered the early phase of Christianisation in Britain, a process that began after the mission of Saint Augustine of Canterbury in 597 AD. Wilfrid's family was Christian, and he was raised with strong religious influences.
Wilfrid’s education began in the monastic communities of Northumbria, but his path to spiritual and intellectual growth would take him far beyond his homeland. Around the age of 14, he was sent to the renowned monastery of Lindisfarne, the spiritual heart of Northumbria, where he came under the tutelage of the monks. It was here that Wilfrid developed his profound knowledge of Christian doctrine.
At a young age, Wilfrid felt called to further his education, so he journeyed to the continent. He spent several years in Rome, where he was deeply influenced by the culture and religious practices of the Italian church. Wilfrid's time in Rome would prove to be a defining moment in his life, as he adopted many of the practices he encountered there, including the Roman calculation of the date of Easter, which was a matter of great contention in England at the time. shutdown123