Who was the Venerable
Bede?
Scholar, Historian, Churchman and Saint.
Date and Place of Birth:
673.
Family Background:
Nothing is known of his parentage. He was taken
to the monastery of St. Peter at Wearmouth at the age of 7 by the
Abbott, St. Benedict Biscop.
Education:
Educated by Monks at Wearmouth and Jarrow.
Chronology/Biography of the
Venerable Bede:
Famous for popularising a new dating system,
which began events from the birth of Christ. (AD).
680: Entered St.
Peter's Monastery at Monkwearmouth at the age of seven.
St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth Sunderland
The Abbey buildings where Bede studied were to the right of the
church as we look at it and although long gone, the recent floodings
from the River Wear have shown up outlines of the foundations. The
porch in the tower would have been used by Bede himself
(© Anthony Blagg)
686: Went to Jarrow,
where he spent much of the rest of his life.
703: Ordained as
a priest. Associated with the Monastery of St. Paul at Jarrow. Taught
Greek, Latin Hebrew and Theology.
Spent much of his time in prayer and writing.
Wrote works on the lives of five abbots and 114 saints as well as
several biblical commentaries, hymns, verses and books. Also works
on astronomy, medicine, physical science and grammar. He made several
commentaries on the Old and New Testaments and translated the Gospel
of St. John into Anglo-Saxon just before his death.
(836): The Synod
of Aachen posthumously awarded him the title “Venerable”.
Written Works:
- 725: “De Temporum
Ratione” about the reckoning of the date for Easter.
- 731: “Historia
Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum” (Ecclesiastical History of the
English People). (This work earned him the title of the "Father
of English History").
(Introduced the custom of dating events from
the birth of Christ).
Statue to the Venerable Bede erected in the
Twentieth Century on the seafront at Roker, Sunderland
(© Anthony Blagg)
(1899): Canonised:
(Made a Saint).
Marriage:
Never married.
Date and Place of Death:
735.
Age at Death:
63.
Carving on the statue to Bede,
Sunderland showing Bede's last Moments
(© Anthony Blagg)
Site of Grave:
Originally at Jarrow but his bones were moved
in the Eleventh Century to the Galilee Porch, Durham Cathedral,
Durham, County Durham, England.
Places of Interest:
COUNTY DURHAM:
Durham Cathedral.
TYNE AND WEAR:
St Peter's CHurch, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland
The Bede Monastery Museum, Jarrow
Statue to Bede on the seafront at Roker.
