Eanfrith, eldest son of Æthelfrith, and Æbbe's half-brother, returned as King of Bernicia, however the alliance proved short-lived and he was later killed by Cadwallon.
With her brothers on the throne of Northumbria, Æbbe could return from exile and with their support established a monastery[5] at Ebchester and later within the remains of a 6th-century fort at urbs Coludi, now known as Kirk Hill at St Abb's Head, latterly evolving into Coldingham Priory.
However, he refused to give up his suit and it is said that due to her prayers the tide stayed high around Kirk Hill for three days and protected her.
[4] Her political prowess also proved important in rectifying a dispute between her nephew Ecgfrith, King of Northumbria, who had succeeded his father Oswui in 670, and the Bishop Wilfrid.
The dispute started with Wilfrid's support for Queen Æthelthryth, who wished despite her marriage to preserve her virginity, and to enter a monastery.
Thanks to Æbbe's political skills, on a visit by Ecgfrith to the monastery on Kirk hill, she managed to persuade her nephew to release the bishop.
This leads to one of the most famous miracles surrounding the patron saint of southeast Scotland and northeast England, St. Cuthbert who visited Æbbe's monastery to instruct the community.
The early work of Æbbe in establishing the Christian religion in south-east Scotland was not forgotten, and in a book written about c. 1200 by the monks of Coldingham, they tell of many pilgrims visiting the Kirk Hill and the spring at Well Mouth, located at the top of the beach now called Horse Castle Bay.