Died c. 681-700; feast day sometimes given as January 25. Tortgith,
novice-mistress of Barking Abbey under
Saint Etheldreda (f.d. June 23),
was the friend of its founder,
Saint Ethelburga (f.d. October 12).
She
is described as a miracle of patience under suffering, zeal, and care
for the young. She suffered paralysis for six years (669-675) and
experienced a vision of Ethelburga just before the abbess's death. Three
years later, after losing her power of speech, too, she had another
vision and spoke with Ethelburga about her imminent death. Her words but
not those of Ethelburga were recorded by witnesses and sent to the
Venerable Bede (f.d. May 26)
(
Benedictines,
Farmer).