Saint · Early medieval
Bede the Venerable
Monk of Jarrow; author of the Ecclesiastical History of the English People; Doctor of the Church
- Period
- c. 672–735
- Feast day
- 25 May
- Associated region
- Monkwearmouth and Jarrow (Northumbria, England); Durham (relics)
Overview
Monk at Jarrow whose Ecclesiastical History of the English People is the main source for early English church history. Declared a Doctor of the Church in 1899.
Key timeline
4 events
- c. 672–673Approximate
Birth on Monkwearmouth–Jarrow lands
Birthplace uncertain; a tradition gives Monkton.
- c. 679Approximate
Sent to Monkwearmouth to be educated
- Not dated
Later at Jarrow with Ceolfrith
- 686
Survives the plague at Jarrow
Life
Bede was born around 672 or 673 on the lands of the Monkwearmouth–Jarrow monastery; a tradition places his birth at Monkton. At about seven he was sent to Monkwearmouth, to be educated by Benedict Biscop and later by Ceolfrith, and later moved to Jarrow.
He survived the plague of 686, which killed most of the population at Jarrow, and the article says he and Ceolfrith sang the full offices. He was ordained deacon around 692 and priest around 702, both by Bishop John of Hexham.
His own works are the main source for what is known of him. They include De temporum ratione (c. 723) and the Ecclesiastical History of the English People (c. 731).
He died at Jarrow on 26 May 735, the Feast of the Ascension. The article’s account of his last days records his breathlessness, his dictation to the end, and his translation of the Gospel of John into English, which he finished, saying ‘All is finished’.
Principal written sources
- Authentic, dated: De arte metrica and De schematibus et tropis, c. 701; De temporibus, c. 703; De temporum ratione (On the Reckoning of Time), c. 723, with its Greater Chronicle (chapter 66) dated 725; Ecclesiastical History of the English People, completed c. 731; a letter to Ecgbert of York, 734, his last surviving work.
- Authentic, undated: lives of the abbots of Wearmouth and Jarrow; verse and prose lives of St Cuthbert.
- Attributed, uncertain: the poem ‘Bede’s Death Song’. Not all manuscripts name him, and those that do are later.
Full timeline
- c. 672–673Approximate
Birth on Monkwearmouth–Jarrow lands
Birthplace uncertain; a tradition gives Monkton.
- c. 679Approximate
Sent to Monkwearmouth to be educated
- Not dated
Later at Jarrow with Ceolfrith
- 686
Survives the plague at Jarrow
- c. 692Approximate
Ordained deacon
- c. 702Approximate
Ordained priest
- c. 723
De temporum ratione
- c. 731
Ecclesiastical History of the English People completed
- 734
Letter to Ecgbert of York
His last surviving work.
- 26 May 735
Death at Jarrow
The article describes his last days.
- c. 1020Approximate
Remains moved to Durham
Dated around 1020 in the article's lead; some sections give the 11th century.
- 1370
Shrine in the Galilee Chapel, Durham
- 1831
Bones reburied in a new tomb
- 1899Church-recognised
Canonised and declared a Doctor of the Church
By Pope Leo XIII.
Tradition
Canonised and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1899.
His remains were moved to Durham, around 1020 according to the article. A shrine in the Galilee Chapel followed in 1370; the shrine was destroyed in the Reformation, and in 1831 the bones were reburied in a new tomb.
- Feast day
- 25 May — Feast day (Catholic, Church of England, Episcopal Church); 27 May in Eastern Orthodox churches
- Venerated in (starting dataset)
- Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican. The checked article gives 25 May in the Catholic Church, the Church of England and the Episcopal Church, and 27 May in Eastern Orthodox churches. Canonised and declared a Doctor in 1899 by Pope Leo XIII.
- Patronage and roles (starting dataset)
- English Historians, Scholars
- Places
- Monkwearmouth · Jarrow · Monkton · Durham
Accounts
Accounts in the starting dataset
The source workbook lists these under “Confirmed Miracle / Key Event”. The Atlas does not treat them as confirmed: each is labelled by the kind of evidence behind it.
UnverifiedLight from his cell while dictating the translation of John
“Light emanating from cell while dictating Gospel of John translation”
Not in the checked article. Its account of his death records the translation work but not a light. Not treated as established.
UnverifiedIncorruptible remains translated to Durham
“Incorruptibility of remains translated to Durham Cathedral”
The checked article records the translations and the later reburial but does not mention incorruptibility. Not carried as established.
Sources
About the image · Editorial design
Decorative initial B, drawn for the Atlas. It is not a likeness of Bede.
Editorial status
Reference entry, drafted with particular care. Key dates were spot-checked during this build against the sources marked “checked” below; other references are listed for later verification.
References
Reference work✓ Checked in build session
Opened in this session. Checked: birth (c. 672/673) and death (26 May 735, Jarrow), the schooling at seven, the plague (686), deacon (c. 692) and priest (c. 702) ordinations, the dated works (De temporum ratione c. 723; Ecclesiastical History c. 731; letter 734), the account of his last days including the Gospel of John, the relics (Durham around 1020; Galilee shrine 1370; reburial 1831), canonisation and Doctor (1899, Leo XIII), and the feast days. Not in article: the light from his cell, and incorruptibility.
Workbook linkNot yet checked
britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
Link supplied in the source workbook (“Top 100 Saints”, row 55). It has not been checked to confirm that it supports every claim in that row.
Original workbook record
Imported unchanged from “Top 100 Saints”, row 55. Values here are the starting dataset, not verified facts; where the Atlas differs, the reason is noted below.
- #
- 47
- Saint / Title
- Saint Bede the Venerable
- Primary Traditions Veneration
- Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican
- Feast Day(s)
- May 25
- Era / Lived
- 672 – 735 AD
- Origin / Region
- Jarrow, Northumbria, England
- Patronage & Major Roles
- English Historians, Scholars
- Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 1
- Light emanating from cell while dictating Gospel of John translation
- Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 2
- Incorruptibility of remains translated to Durham Cathedral
- Key Contribution / Historical Significance
- Monk at Jarrow who authored 'Ecclesiastical History of the English People'.
- Reference Link
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Bede-the-Venerable
Editorial notes on this record
- Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 1: Light from his cell: not in the checked article; not carried as established.
- Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 2: Incorruptibility: not in the checked article; the article records the translations and reburial only.