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

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

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

Selected publications

• 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

1. Obituary, indcatholicnews.com. Accessed 18 March 2022.
2. Biographical note form Cary-Elwes & Wybourne, Work and Prayer
3. "Sister Catherine Weybourne, '@Digitalnun', who became a force on the internet from her Benedictine monastery – obituary". The Telegraph. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
4. Wybourne's LinkedIn page, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-wybourne-a4824338
5. Presenter: Jane Garvey (1 April 2013). "Women and the Christian faith". Woman's Hour. BBC. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
6. Presenter: Aleks Krotoski (21 May 2012). "Conviction". Digital Human. BBC. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
7. "'Digital Nun' Dame Catherine Wybourne's keynote speech at Faith 2.0 conference | Tony Blair Faith Foundation". Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
8. "Catherine Wybourne". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
9. "Take five minutes out to meet God". The Times. London. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
10. "RIP Sr Catherine Wybourne, aka Digitalnun". Archbishop Cranmer. 24 February 2022. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
11. "Message of Abbot Paul – Friday 25th February". Belmont Abbey. 24 February 2022. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.