bede's history of the english church and people

As he explained, ‘my chief delight has always been in study, teaching and writing’. For the rest of his life he followed the rules of his monastery and devoted his life to learning. He became a deacon at the very young age of 19 and was ordained priest aged 30. They might later decide to become a monk, though not always.īede did remain. He was then what was called an oblate, a child ‘offered’ to a monastery for education. He was born around 673 probably in Monkton and joined the monastery at Wearmouth aged seven. The writer does not name him, but it is highly likely that the boy was Bede, who was to become one of the greatest English scholars, part of the story of Durham Cathedral.Īlmost all we know about Bede’s life comes from an autobiographical note at the end of his History of the English Church and People. According to the anonymous writer of the life of Ceolfrith, the boy remained as a priest at that monastery and went on to praise his teacher in writing and speech. The abbot (Ceolfrith) and the youngster managed with much difficulty to keep the services going until Ceolfrith could train or bring in others who could help. ‘… all who could read, preach or say the antiphons and responsories were snatched away, save the abbot himself and a lad who had been brought up and educated by him’. The impact of the plague on the life of the monastery and its services was devastating. It was a Benedictine monastery, where the monks chanted daily services at set hours. In 686 a terrible plague struck the monastery of Jarrow, a place of great learning and artistic endeavour. Head of Collections, Alison Cullingford, takes us through Bede’s early years, his time as a monk, his scholarly legacy and his eventual passing. On the Eve of St Bede’s feast day, what could be more fitting to share than the life story of our beloved St Bede, whose tomb is housed in the Galilee Chapel inside Durham Cathedral.

Bede's history of the english church and people