St. Ethelreda (Audrey)

St. Ethelreda, also known as Audrey, was born around 630 to Anna, King of East Anglia. She became a prominent figure in Anglo-Saxon England, marrying twice while maintaining her virginity. Her first marriage was to Tondbert, an ealdorman of the South Gyrwas, and after his death, she married Egfrith, King of Northumbria, in 660. Despite her marital status, Ethelreda remained committed to her vow of chastity, which led to her eventual separation from Egfrith.

In 673, Ethelreda founded a double monastery at Ely, Cambridgeshire, where she served as the first abbess. This establishment became a significant center of religious life and learning. Ethelreda's dedication to her faith and her leadership in the monastic community earned her great respect. She died in 679, likely due to the plague.

Ethelreda's legacy as a saint began soon after her death, with her body found incorrupt seventeen years later. Her shrine at Ely became a major pilgrimage site throughout the Middle Ages. Although her shrine was destroyed during the Reformation, Ethelreda remains an important figure in English religious history. Her feast day is celebrated on June 23. Ethelreda's path to sainthood was formalized over time through her veneration by the Catholic and Anglican Churches, reflecting her enduring influence on religious devotion and monasticism.