Whitby - Birthplace of English Christianity

The ancient Priory at Rosedale Abbey is part of the great ecclisiastical history of this corner of Yorkshire. 

And just over the moor is to be found Whitby - the location where the English Church was founded and where the date of Easter was established.

In 657 AD, St Hilda founded the first Abbey at Whitby.

And in 664AD King Oswy convened the first ever Church Synod to decide on the Christian disclipine to be followed in England.

In debate were the Celtic Christians from the North and West of Britain and the followers of St Augustine from the South of England, who followed the traditions of the Roman Church.

In the end, Oswy came down in favour of the Roman Church which established St Perter's in Rome as the mother church of England.

This situation lasted for the next 1,000 years; until the dissolution of the Catholic Church by Henry VIII.

You can still visit St Hilda's Abbey in Whitby - rebuilt in 13th century - and destroyed by Henry VIII - and a German naval bombardment in 1916!

It is a suburb drive across the scenic North Yorkshire Moors from Rosedale to Whitby; and the climb up the 199 steps to the Abbey plain is fabulous.

You'll love it!

Rosella Luxury Holiday Cottage

Rosella Cottage is a luxury self-catering, get-away-from-it-all holiday home in Rosedale Abbey.  We have a cosy lounge, kitchen, a king-size bed in a large bedroom with vaulted-ceiling, and a lovely en-suite. 

We've got a village-centre location and we're easy walking distance to the village shop, cafes, and village pubs with great restaurants.  Built in 1850 but now completely refurbished, Rosella is ideal for luxury break in the heart of the North York Moors.  To view availability and for bookings, just click here.