St. Trumwin, Bishop of Whitby, among the Picts
Died c. 700. Saint Bede tells us that, in 681, Saint Trumwin
was appointed bishop over the southern Picts by Saint
Theodore and King Egfrid. Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury had divided
the Northumbrian diocese governed by Saint Wilfrid into three,
establishing the sees of Deira, Bernica, and Lindsey.
Three years later,
two more diocese were created for Hexham and on the Firth of Forth to
govern the Pictish lands recently conquered. This last became the seat
for Trumwin, who organised his see at the monastery of Abercorn and
later founded a monastery at Lothian on the Firth of Forth. Trumwin also
accompanied Theodore to Farne to persuade Saint Cuthbert to be
consecrated bishop of Hexham.
In 685, King Egfrid was killed by the
Picts in the disastrous battle of Nechtansmere and Saint Trumwin and all
his monks had to flee south when the English were ousted. He went to
Whitby Abbey, where he was welcomed by Abbess Saint Elfleda. There he
lived out his last days in "austerity to the benefit of many others
beside himself" (Bede). Trumwin's relics were translated during the 12th
century with those of King Oswy and Saint Elfleda (Benedictines,
Coulson, Farmer).
