HumanitiesWeb.org - Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, Book III (Chapter XXVIII) by Venerable Bede
Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, Book III Chapter XXVIII
by Venerable Bede
TUDA BEING DEAD, WILFRID WAS ORDAINED, IN FRANCE AND CHAD, IN THE PROVINCE OF THE WEST
SAXONS, TO BE BISHOPS OF THE NORTHUMBRIANS. [A.D. 665.]
IN the meantime, King Alfrid sent the priest, Wilfrid, to the king of France, to be
consecrated bishop over him and his people. That prince sent him to be ordained by
Agilbert, who, as was said above, having left Britain, was made bishop of the city of
Paris, and by him Wilfrid was honorably consecrated, several bishops meeting together for
that purpose in a village belonging to the king, called Compiegne. He made some stay in
the parts beyond the sea, after his consecration, and Oswy, following the example of the
king his son, sent a holy man, of modest behavior, well read in the Scripture, and
diligently practicing those things which he had learned therein, to be ordained bishop of
the church of York. This was a priest called Ceadda [Chad], brother to the reverend
prelate Cedd, of whom mention has been often made, and abbot of the monastery of
Lestingau. With him the king also sent his priest Eadhed, who was afterwards, in the reign
of Egfrid, made bishop of the church of Ripon. On arriving in Kent, they found that
Archbishop Deusdedit was departed this life, and no other prelate as yet appointed in his
place; whereupon they proceeded to the province of the West Saxons, where Wini was bishop,
and by him the person above-mentioned was consecrated bishop; two bishops of the British
nation, who kept Easter Sunday according to the canonical manner, from the fourteenth to
the twentieth day of the moon, as has been said, being taken to assist at the ordination;
for at that time there was no other bishop in all Britain canonically ordained, besides
that Mini.
Chad, being thus consecrated bishop, began immediately to devote himself to
ecclesiastical truth and to chastity; to apply himself to humility, continence, and study;
to travel about, not on horseback, but after the manner of the apostles, on foot, to
preach the Gospel in towns, the open country, cottages, villages, and castles; for he was
one of the disciples of Aidan, and endeavored to instruct his people, by the same actions
and behavior, according to his and his brother Cedd's example. Wufrid also being made a
bishop, came into Britain, and in like manner by his doctrine brought into the English
Church many rules of Catholic observance. Whence it followed, that the Catholic
institutions daily gained strength, and all the Scots that dwelt in England either
conformed to these, or returned into their own country.
