 Aldfrith 's relations with the Church were , however , not always smooth . He inherited from Ecgfrith a troubled relationship with Wilfrid , a major ecclesiastical figure of the time . Wilfrid , the bishop of York , had been exiled by Ecgfrith for his role in persuading Ecgfrith 's wife , Æthelthryth , to remain a saintly celibate . In 686 , at the urging of Archbishop Theodore , Aldfrith allowed Wilfrid to return . Aldfrith 's relations with Wilfrid were stormy ; the hostility between the two was partly caused by Aldfrith 's allegiances with the Celtic Church , a consequence of his upbringing in exile . A more significant cause of strife was Wilfrid 's opposition to Theodore 's division , in 677 , of his huge Northumbrian diocese . When Wilfrid returned from exile the reconciliation with Aldfrith did not include Aldfrith 's support for Wilfrid 's attempts to recover his episcopal authority over the whole of the north . By 691 or 692 their differences were beyond repair . Wilfrid 's hagiographer writes : 
