View source for Cedd of Lastingham

'''Saint Cedd''' (AD 620-AD 664, sometimes called ''St. Cedd of Lastingham'') was a [[missionary]] and [[bishop]] who spread the Faith throughout England. He is commemorated on [[January 7]].

==Life==
St. Cedd, the eldest of four brothers, was born into a noble Northumbrian family at the beginning of the 7th century. With his siblings, Cynebil, Caelin & (St.) Chad, he entered the school at Lindisfarne Priory at an early age and learned the ways of the Irish [[monk]]s under [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Bishop Aidan]]. They were eventually sent to Ireland for further study, and all four subsequently became [[presbyter|priests]]. 

Bishop Finan of [[Lindisfarne]] subsequently sent Cedd out to evangelize the people of Essex, who were sorely in need of spiritual guidance. He [[baptism|baptised]] many of the locals and built several [[church]]es. He is particularly noted for the foundation of [[monastery|monasteries]] at Bradwell-on-Sea and East Tilbury. 

Having been ordained as Bishop of Essex by Bishop Finan, Cedd re-instated St. Paul's in London as the main seat of his [[diocese]]. He [[ordination|ordained]] priests and [[deacon]]s to assist him in his work and gathered together a large flock of servants of Christ in his two monastic foundations. 

Bishop Cedd always remained fond of his northern homeland, however, and made regular visits there. On one such occasion in AD 658, Cedd was approached by King Aethelwald of Deira. Finding Cedd to be a good and wise man, he pressed upon him to accept a parcel of land at Lastingham in Yorkshire on which to build a monastery. Cedd eventually agreed, but would not lay the foundation stones until the place had first been cleansed through [[prayer]] and [[fasting]]. Cedd was the first [[Abbot]] of Lastingham and remained so while still administering to his flock in Essex. 

In AD 664 Cedd was at Lastingham while a great plague was raging through the area. Both he and his brother, Cynebil, fell sick and, after placing Lastingham in the charge of their youngest brother, Chad, they died. Cedd was first buried in the open air, and his funeral was attended by some thirty monks from Bradwell who, sadly, also contracted the plague and died. Eventually, a little stone church was built at Lastingham in honour the [[Theotokos|Virgin Mary]], and Cedd's body was interred there, to the right of the [[altar]]. The latter remains intact in the Norman crypt that was later built on the site, though St. Cedd's bones were removed around the same time to the [[cathedral]] founded by his brother, Chad, at Lichfield. 

==Sources and External links==

[Icon of St. Cedd][http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/cedd.htm St. Cedd @  Orthodox England]

[http://www.bradwellchapel.org/spviews.htm Pictures of St. Peters on the Wall Chapel, founded by St. Cedd]

[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Saints]]