The Venerable Bede
Bede was born in Sunderland, in the Kingdom of Northumberland, in the far
north of England, on the 26th of May, A.D. 672 -673. The name Bede
derives from ‘Old English’ for prayer. Bede’s kin-folk had laid foundations
for him to be part of the clergy. This information is to be found in the
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of 501 . Bede studied the early and ecclesiastical
history of Britain and especially of the race of the “ ENGLISH “. Bede’s
Monastery had a wonderful library of books some of which were very ancient,
Eusebius and Arouses, being among them. Bede was a well known scholar and
writer. His work, “ The Ecclesiastical History of the English People “ has made
him the Father of English History. Bede was a linguist, and orator. His
translations of Latin and Greek writings contributed to and enhanced English
Christianity, giving the Angles and Saxons greater accessibility to the writings
of the Early Church Fathers.
Bede wrote that he was a servant of Christ and a Priest of the Monastery of
the blessed apostles St Peter and St Paul, which is at Wearmouth and at Jarrow,
having with the Lord’s help compiled learning, so far as he could gather it,
either from ancient documents, or from tradition of the elders, or from his own
knowledge. He was born in the territory of the said monastery, and at the age of
seven was by the care of relations, given to the reverend Abbot Benedict and
afterwards to Ceolfrid to be educated. From that time he spent the rest of his
life within the monastery devoting all his pains to the study of the
scriptures. Amid the observance of monastic discipline, and the daily charge of
singing in the church, it had ever been his delight to learn and teach or to
write.
In his 19th year he was admitted to diaconate, in his
30th year to the priesthood, both at the hands of the most reverend
Bishop John of Hexham, and at the bidding of Abbot Ceolifrid. From the time of
his admission to his (present) 59th year, he endeavoured, for his own
use and that of his brethren, to make brief notes upon holy scripture, either
out of the works of venerable fathers or in conformity with their meaning and
interpretation.
Birth: 672 or 673
Entrance to monastery: 679-680
Ordained Deacon: 691-692
Priest: 702- 703
Wearmouth Founded by Bishop Benedict: 674
Jarrow: 681- 682
Author of –“ Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation”
“History of the Abbots”