Hierarch Wilfrid the Younger, Bishop of York

St. Wilfrid the Younger, Bishop of York, was the junior namesake and spiritual successor of the great St. Wilfrid of Ripon (separately researched in this database), from whom he is distinguished as "the Younger" or "Wilfrid II." As a young man he was a monk at Whitby during the abbacy of St. Hilda; he later served at the court of St. John of Beverley, Bishop of York, becoming his closest assistant. In 718 he was consecrated coadjutor bishop to John, and upon John's retirement he succeeded to the see of York, holding it for more than a decade. He was remembered for adorning York Minster — covering the altar and crosses with silver and gold, commissioning precious liturgical vessels. In 732 he resigned his see and retired to a monastery he had founded. He died on April 29, 745 (other sources say 744 or 746) and was buried at Ripon. He was the last Bishop of York before the see became an archbishopric.