A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Werburga
WERBURGA,
Was the wife of Ceolred, King of Mercia, who died after a reign of but eight years, and left no children. His widow then retired to a monastery, probably that in Holy Island, where she continued to reside up to the time of her death, which, in the chronicle of Roger de Hovenden, is thus pithily recorded:—"Werburga, formerly Queen of the Mercians, then abbess, ceased to live here that she might have fevour with Christ, Anno. 783."
Werburga was canonized as a saint, and her character is given in these words "Like the holy widow Anan, the prophetess, she never departed from the Lord's temple, serving God day and night, in abstinence and prayers, for the space of sixty-five years. For the latter part of that time she was abbess of the monastery, and shewed no less humility in governing others, than she had before in obeying.