In c. 635 King Oswald introduced Columban monks to the island of Lindisfarne, opposite his fortress of Bebbanburg, in order to Christianise his mainly pagan peoples.
Under these auspices, Æbbe first founded a monastery at Ebchester, then at what Bede refers to as Urbs Coludi (Sax.
Coldingaham).
 It is uncertain when these establishments were founded although Æbbe first appears in records of the Lindisfarne by 642 AD, the date of her brother's death.
Oswald was succeeded by a younger brother, Oswiu.
Both brothers were given the title of Bretwalda by Bede.
The abbey was sited on what is now called Kirk-Hill, but is commonly called the Brugh (a corruption of Sax.
burh- fort), on the headland at present day St Abbs, separated from the world by a deep trench and a high palisade.
This religious house lasted for about 40 years and was a double monastery of both monks and nuns governed by Æbbe.

Around 660 St Æthelthryth, Queen of Æbbe's nephew, Ecgfrith of Northumbria took the veil as a nun, under the tutelage of St Wilfrid.
Æthelthryth was later to found Ely Cathedral.
Saint Cuthbert arrived at Coldingham in 661 to instruct the community.

Æbbe presumably had difficulties maintaining discipline.
One of the monks, Adomnán by name (not the same man as  St Adomnán the abbot of Iona), prophesied the house's destruction.
The abbey at Coldingham burnt down in 679 soon after Æbbe's death and was rebuilt.
Æbbe is remembered as a religieuse of great piety who helped to spread Christianity in Northumbria and beyond.
Her feast day is on 25 August.

All that remains today at the Kirk-hill is the trench, a few grassy mounds and the ruin of a 14th-century church erected by monks of the later priory.
There are few references to the house at Coldingham from its destruction until its revival in the 11th century, excepting tales of a later superior also called Æbbe.
It is likely that the house was reformed as community of nuns at some point in the 8th or 9th centuries, as by the formation of the Benedictine priory in 1100 AD there was a thriving cult of St Æbbe at the site.
The house appears to have moved from its original site at St Abb's Head to its present location around this time.
In c. 635 King Oswald introduced Columban monks to the island of Lindisfarne, opposite his fortress of Bebbanburg, in order to Christianise his mainly pagan peoples. Under these auspices, Æbbe first founded a monastery at Ebchester, then at what Bede refers to as Urbs Coludi (Sax. Coldingaham).  It is uncertain when these establishments were founded although Æbbe first appears in records of the Lindisfarne by 642 AD, the date of her brother's death. Oswald was succeeded by a younger brother, Oswiu. Both brothers were given the title of Bretwalda by Bede. The abbey was sited on what is now called Kirk-Hill, but is commonly called the Brugh (a corruption of Sax. burh- fort), on the headland at present day St Abbs, separated from the world by a deep trench and a high palisade. This religious house lasted for about 40 years and was a double monastery of both monks and nuns governed by Æbbe.
Around 660 St Æthelthryth, Queen of Æbbe's nephew, Ecgfrith of Northumbria took the veil as a nun, under the tutelage of St Wilfrid. Æthelthryth was later to found Ely Cathedral. Saint Cuthbert arrived at Coldingham in 661 to instruct the community.
Æbbe presumably had difficulties maintaining discipline. One of the monks, Adomnán by name (not the same man as  St Adomnán the abbot of Iona), prophesied the house's destruction. The abbey at Coldingham burnt down in 679 soon after Æbbe's death and was rebuilt. Æbbe is remembered as a religieuse of great piety who helped to spread Christianity in Northumbria and beyond. Her feast day is on 25 August.
All that remains today at the Kirk-hill is the trench, a few grassy mounds and the ruin of a 14th-century church erected by monks of the later priory. There are few references to the house at Coldingham from its destruction until its revival in the 11th century, excepting tales of a later superior also called Æbbe. It is likely that the house was reformed as community of nuns at some point in the 8th or 9th centuries, as by the formation of the Benedictine priory in 1100 AD there was a thriving cult of St Æbbe at the site. The house appears to have moved from its original site at St Abb's Head to its present location around this time.
Coldingham Priory