97. SAINT WITHBURGA, HERMITESS OF EAST DEREHAM

Our holy Mother Withburga was the daughter of King Anna of the East Angles and sister of St. Aethelthryth. For many years she lived as a hermitess at Holkham, Norfolk, and then at East Dereham. She used to be fed with milk by a tame doe. Once a man killed the doe, and very soon died himself.

At East Dereham St. Withburga founded a community, but died before the buildings were completed, in 743. She was buried in the churchyard. In 798, her body was found to be incorrupt and was translated into the church. A holy well, which is still in existence, sprang up at the point where her body was exhumed.

In 974, Abbot Brithnoth of Ely went secretly at night to Dereham and removed the body on waggons to the river Brandun, hotly pursued by the men of Dereham. On the waterways the ship lost its course, but a column of fire appeared from heaven and showed the way to the shore. In 1106, the incorruption of St. Withburgás body was again confirmed.

The translation of St. Withburga is commemorated on July 8.

Holy Mother Withburga, pray to God for us!

(Sources: Anglo-Saxon Chronicle; William of Malmesbury, Gesta Pontificum Anglorum, IV, 184; David Farmer, The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, Oxford: Clarendon, 1978, p.

411)