Willibrord, Saint

Willibrord, Saint wĭˈlĭbrôrd [key], 658–739, English Benedictine missionary, called the Apostle to the Frisians. He was brought up at Ripon by St. Wilfrid and studied further (678–90) in Ireland. From there he was sent with a few monks to Friesland to preach, under the protection of Pepin of Heristal. In 695 Willibrord went to Rome and was consecrated archbishop of the Frisians by Pope Sergius I, who gave him the name of Clement. Utrecht was established as his see; it became a center of English Christian culture on the Continent. He died at Echternach, in the monastery which he had founded (c.700). His work was continued by St. Boniface. Feast: Nov. 7.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Saints