Council · Today in 664
Synod of Whitby
Whitby settled which wider Christian calendar Northumbria would follow. The dispute over Easter dating and tonsure sounds small, but it represented a larger choice between Irish monastic customs and Roman practice. King Oswiu chose Rome, bringing Northumbria into closer alignment with the continental church. Bede tells the story because, for him, unity in worship and time mattered to the shape of an English church.
Northumbria chose the Roman calendar.
Highlights
- Easter dating was disputed.
- Irish and Roman customs competed.
- King Oswiu chose Rome.
- Bede preserved the story.
How it happened
What happened
Northumbrian leaders met at Whitby to decide between Irish and Roman customs.
The argument
The visible issue was Easter dating and tonsure; the deeper issue was which wider communion Northumbria would follow.
What changed
King Oswiu chose Roman practice.
Why it matters
Whitby aligned Northumbria more closely with the Roman and continental church.
Book of the day
Ecclesiastical History of the English People
Bede the VenerableA reading pick tied to today's figure, quote, era, or event. The classic early medieval church history in the West, written at the far end of this site's timeline.
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