Died late 7th century. It is odd that a pagan, King Penda of Mercia,
should have born so much fruit for the Kingdom of God. He was a staunch
opponent of Christ, yet four of his daughters, including Edburga, rank
among those in the heavenly court. Her sisters by blood and faith were
Saints Kyneburga (wife of King Alfred of Northumberland), and Kyneswide
and Chinesdre, who consecrated their virginity to God when they entered
the convent of Dormundcastor or Caistor in Northamptonshire. Edburga
also seems to have made her vows and was buried there.
When her brother Wulhere finished Peterborough, her relics with those of
her three sisters were translated to the new foundation. About 1040, the
monk Balger carried all their relics and some of those of Saint Oswald
to Berg Saint Winnoc in
Flanders, probably by the authority of King Hardecanute of England, son
of Emma, who had lived in Flanders in his youth. The relics of Saints
Oswald, Edburga, and Lewin were lost in a great fire at the abbey in
1558. Yet an inscription there informs us that some of their dust still
remains in the tomb
(
Benedictines,
Husenbeth).