I knew she was responsible for the construction of a monastery on the site where Ely Cathedral now stands, where she lived as Abbess for the latter part of her life but I didn't really know very much more about her than that.
In brief....St Etheldreda, Abbess of Ely, was born around AD 636 in Exning, Suffolk. She really wanted to pursue a life of worship and become a nun but was forced into marriage at the age of 16. It was her husband, Tondberht, who gave her the estate of Ely (then known as Elge) as part of their marriage settlement. During her marriage to Tondberht, which ended after three years with his death, Etheldreda was allowed to live life as a nun.
Her second marriage to Egfrith (who became king of Northumbria) ended with her fleeing (disguised as a beggar) back to Ely to seek sanctuary from her demanding husband. Etheldreda and Egfrith had married when he was just 15 but now, in his twenties, he wanted (demanded) more from his marriage and wife (who was now Queen of Northumbria). Etheldreda was determined to continue with a life of celibacy and worship and in AD 673 she built the monastery in Ely where she lived until her death (from a tumour) at the age of 43.
It's a fascinating story about a very strong willed woman who was determined and suceeded to live the life she chose for herself.
To find out more about St Etheldreda follow the links below...
http://www.elycathedral.org/history/the_story_cathedral.html
http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/adversaries/bios/etheldreda.html
ARC Jewellery will be at the fair on Palace Green (in front of the Cathedral) on Saturday 1st June 2013 from 10am - 5pm.
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www.arcjewellery.co.uk
www.facebook.com/arcjewellery
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