Catherine Wybourne

Driana Enid Wybourne (April 1954 – 24 February 2022),^[1] professed as Sister Catherine Wybourne OSB, was a British Benedictine nun and prioress (from 2004) of Howton Grove Priory, Hereford (formerly Holy Trinity Monastery, East Hendred). She was also a well-known commentator in the British media, with an internet presence as the Digitalnun.

Career[edit]

Wybourne was born in Chatham and educated at Boscombe Convent^[2] and Girton College, Cambridge,^[3] from which she graduated in 1976 with an MA in History; she subsequently carried out research in Spanish mediaeval history.^[4] She then spent three years in banking before entering Stanbrook Abbey in 1981. She subsequently wrote on the digital age and the finance sector; she was also a blogger and IT worker and wrote on faith issues more generally, especially monasticism and the Rule of Saint Benedict. She contributed a weekly column to The Universe,^[3] a newspaper for Roman Catholics in Great Britain and Ireland.

Wybourne was sometimes styled Dame Catherine Wybourne where the Dame is a title of respect used for certain Benedictine nuns, it being the equivalent to the male title, Dom.^{[5][6][7][8][9]}

Death[edit]

Wybourne died from cancer on 24 February 2022, at the age of 67.^[10][11][3]

Selected publications[edit]

• Cary-Elwes, Columba and Catherine Wybourne (1992) Work & prayer the Rule of St Benedict for lay people. Tunbridge Wells: Burns & Oates
• Wybourne, D. Catherine (2006 to 2013 editions). The Catholic Directory of England and Wales. Manchester: Gabriel Communications.

References[edit]