Spirit of Orthodoxy Choir

Saint Cedd

St Cedd, born: c. AD 620 in Northumberland Died: 26th October AD 664 at Lastingham, Yorkshire

The little that is known about St Cedd comes to us mainly from the writing of St. Bede in his "Eclessiastical History Of The English People".(Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum) Cedd was borne in the Kingdom of Northumbria and brought up on the island of Lindisfarne by St Aidan. He was one of four brothers Ceadda (later saint Ceadda), Cynibill and Caelin.In 653 he was sent as one of four priests by King Oswiu to evangelise the kingdom of Mercia. In Mercia, Peada son of Penda was king and had agreed to become a Christian in return for the hand of Oswiu's daughter Alchflaed in marriage.

After a recall to Lindisfarne, Cedd went to Essex as a missionary at the request of King Sigeberht to convert his people. He became bishop of the East Saxons. Cedd founded many churches and monasteries at Tilbury and Ithancester. Later he went on to found the Monastery of Lastingham in his native Northumbria at the request of the new king of Northumbria, Aethelwald. At Lastingham Cedd became the first abbot while maintaining his position of bishop to the East Saxons.

Although brought up in the Celtic tradition Cedd adopted the Roman tradition after the Synod of Whitby. Immediately after the council, he travelled to Lastingham where he fell ill with the plague and died.