In the second row of panels in the left and right lights, we have scenes from the Christian history of England in Anglo-Saxon times, before the Norman conquest. The panel shown here from the left light represents a scene from the life of St Hilda, who was Abbess of Whitby Abbey, Northumbria, in the middle of the 7th century. She is shown seated with her attendant nuns, while standing before her is the figure of Caedmon, who is singing or reciting. Maynard preached on this panel in a sermon dated October 10, 1948.
The story of Caedmon and Hilda is told by Bede (673–735) in his Ecclesiastical History of the English. Bede describes Hilda as a woman of great energy, who was a skilled administrator, teacher, and wise counsellor. Many sought her advice, but she also had a great concern for ordinary folk. The incident portrayed in the window took place around 650 or 660. Caedmon, who was a worker in the stables at the monastery, was somewhat diffident about joining in the revels and entertainments of his fellows. However, he was inspired by a dream to sing verses in praise of God. Hilda recognized his gift and encouraged him to develop it. He entered the monastic life where he was widely instructed. He set sacred history and holy stories to verse: according to Bede "...he was able to learn all that he heard, and, keeping it all in mind, just as a clean animal chewing cud, turned it into the sweetest song. And his songs and his poems were so beautiful to hear, that his teachers themselves wrote and learned at his mouth." According to the legend, this holy life led to a happy death—after receiving the Holy Sacrament, he made the sign of the cross and passed peacefully away.