SAINT CUTHBURGA OF WIMBORNE Our holy Mother Cuthburga was the sister of King Ina of Wessex, a great king

who in about 726 went to Rome with his wife thelburga, en!ing his !ays as a monk" Cuthburga was gi#en in marriage to King $l!frith of %orthumbria in about 6&&" 'here are !ifferent a((ounts of this marriage" )ome say that it was short an! was ne#er (onsummate!* others + that it was long an! ,ro!u(e! a son, who was about eight years ol! when his father !ie!" In any (ase, with the a,,ro#al of her husban!, Cuthburga retire! from the worl! an! went first to the monastery of -arking, near .on!on, whi(h was rule! at that time by )t" /il!elitha" In 701 King $l!frith !ie!, whereu,on Cuthburga 2ourneye! ba(k to her nati#e Wessex an! aske! her brother, King Ina, for some lan! on whi(h to foun! a monastery" In the year 734 she foun!e! the monastery of Wimborne" )he was re,orte! to ha#e been a beautiful woman, kin! to others but se#ere to herself an! assi!uous in fasting an! ,rayer" )he re,ose! in about 721 an! was burie! in the (hur(h at Wimborne, where her (offin (an still be seen" 5)our(es6 William of Malmesbury, Gesta Regum Anglorum* Margaret 7allyon, The Early Church in Wessex and Mercia, .a#enham6 'eren(e 8alton, 39&0, (h" :* 8a#i! ;armer, The Oxford Dictionary of Saints* Christine Oli#er, The Saxon Saints of Wimborne, Wimborne<