In the 600's in England, there arose a controversy over when Easter should be celebrated. There were arguments for the date Rome celebrated or the date when Ireland did.
To settle the question at issue, in AD 664, King Oswiu summoned a great council to meet in the hall of St. Hilda's Abbey at Whitby. To this, now famous, 'Synod of Whitby' came Colman, St. Aidan's successor in the see of Lindisfarne and St. Wilfred the Elder, Abbot of Ripon.
The discussion which followed was lengthy. Bishop Colman showed the indomitable pride and tenacity of the Celtic race, and Wilfred the eloquence, vehement and persuasive, which distinguished him.
The arguments on either side would now be considered poor enough and the controversy ended with St. Columba being put forward, on the one hand, and St. Peter, on the other, as the authority for the two lines of action.
When Wilfred quoted the text, "Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church.....and I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven". Oswiu turned to Colman and asked whether it was true that our Lord had said that to St. Peter. Colman could not but confirm this.
So the monarch went on,"Can you show that any authority was given to Columba?" This of course hecould not do.
"Then you both agree," resumed Oswiu," that it was St. Peter who received the keys from our Lord." Both disputants assented.
"If it be so," said the King, "I cannot gainsay the power of him who keeps the keys, lest, haply, coming to heaven's gate, St. Peter should deny me the help of his office and refuse to let me into bliss."
And so the King, with the assent of all present, agreed that the changes advocated by Wilfred should be adopted.
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