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ARCHIVE OF BRITISH SAINTS (C-D)

Saint Cedd, Apostle of Essex, (664), fd: 7 January

"My house is in the plains beyond the mouth of the Thames,

And built by the rushing wind and the tongued flames

Where the coast of Heaven borders the English coast,

And the byres of Essex are the shires of the Holy Ghost,

I am as old as the whole Church in Britain,

Cedd raised the first rough fold of my sheep ... "

from "Judgement at Chelmsford" by Charles Williams

The Venerable Bede first refers to St. Cedd in his account of the baptism of Peada, King of the Middle Angles, in Northumbria in 653 by St. Finan, St. Aidan's successor at Lindisfarne. One of the attending priests was St. Cedd. At this time, the East Saxons, had reverted to paganism and controlled Essex and much of present day London. They were ruled by King Sigebert who, however, was converted by the same King Oswy who had brought Peada to Christ. Sigebert was baptised at the same time as Peada in 653. St. Finan sent St. Cedd with King Sigebert as a missionary to the East Saxons. Cedd had great success and returned eventually to Lindisfarne to be consecrated Bishop for the kingdom he had reclaimed for Christ. He established monasteries at Bradwell-on-Sea and Tilbury in Essex.

St. Cedd often returned to his native Northumbria to preach and it was there in 658 that King Oswald granted him land, (by the intercession of St. Cedd's brother, Caelin, the King's chaplain), to establish another monastery at Lastingham. This was built by a third brother of St. Cedd, St. Cynibil, also a priest. One of St. Cedd's last duties was to act as an interpreter at the Synod of Whitby nearby in 663/4. He died of the plague at Lastingham in 664. He did not live to see the beginning of the process of harmonisation of the Celtic Church with Rome which has such ambiguous consequences in the longer term for the Orthodox Church in Great Britain.

Some 30 monks from Bradwell-on-Sea moved north after St. Cedd's death to live near to his relics, a mark of his great sanctity. St. Cedd was eventually laid to rest in a specially built church dedicated to the Mother of God. The Abbot of Lastingham at the time was a fourth brother (and a saint!), Chad. When he reposed as first Bishop of Lichfield, both brothers rested together in Lichfield and are now revered by Orthodox in Essex, the Midlands and Northumbria alike.

(adapted from "Orthodox Christianity and the English Tradition" by Fr Andrew Phillips, published by the English Orthodox Trust, 1995. ISBN: 1-898281-00-9)

St. Columba (Columcille), Abbot and Missionary, (597), fd: 9 June

As with a number of Celtic Saints, Columba came from Irish nobility. His Latinised name, Columba, comes from Columcille, meaning, "dove of the Church," given from his early habit of often being found in prayer.

In his youth he was visited by his Guardian Angel who offered him a choice. Columba chose chastity and wisdom. He was also given the gift of prophecy as a reward for his choice. At an early age he went to the monastery of St. Finian at Movilla in County Down to study theology, manuscript copying and illustration. It was here that he was ordained deacon. At Leinster, he studied poetry and music and some of his manuscripts are now preserved in the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

In 546 A.D., at the age of 25, he founded his first monastery on the Druid's sacred grove site at Doire Calgach, which he renamed Doire Cholm Cille, now known as Derry. This was the place that Columba loved best. The monastery of Durrow, Kells and Moone followed. It is said that the saint founded 37 monastic churches in Ireland during his ministry.

Throughout his life Columba used his copyist and illuminating skills, but it was these that lead to a great tragedy, for in 561 A.D. at the age of 40 Columba secretly copied the manuscript, "St. Martin's Gospel." St. Finian, outraged at the act demanded that the copy be retained in the library of Movilla. The High King of Ireland, Diarmid, judged in St. Finian's favour. Columba and his clan contested the decision in battle at Sligo and was victorious but, tragically, with a great loss of life on both sides. The Synod at Teltown decided on Columba's excommunication for this act. This was later commuted in 563 A.D. to life-long exile from Ireland.

In his search for a new home, St. Columba finally settled on the Isle of Iona where his cousin had founded a church and which was the burial place of the Irish Kings of Dalraida, as Scotland was known at that time. Iona's monastery became Columba's chief foundation and he was subsequently Scotland's patron saint until superseded by St. Andrew.

Like many of our early Celtic saints, St. Columba had an affinity with the wild creatures round about him which he helped alongside his fellow men.

His repose was in this manner. Knowing that his time to rest was at hand at Pascha, he told his fellow monks that he had no wish to turn the joyous festival into a time of mourning, so he would wait a little longer. On 9 June, 597 A.D., (the year St. Augustine landed in Kent), St. Columba reposed. First buried on Iona, his relics were later transferred to Downpatrick to lie alongside St. Patrick and St. Bridget. On his feast day, 9 June, there takes place at Glencolmcille, a "turas" or three mile pilgrimage.

"Iona of my heart, Iona of my love,

instead of monk's voices, shall be lowing of cattle;

but ere the world come to an end,

Iona shall be as it was."

[Stanza attributed to St. Columba]

(With acknowledgement to Courtney Davis and Elaine Gill: "The book of Celtic Saints")

St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, (988), fd: 19 May

Dunstan was born near Glastonbury, the son of a West Saxon noble. He was educated by the Irish monks of Glastonbury Abbey and later entered the household of King Aethelstan. His love of books, song and his skill with mechanical things earned him the dislike of his kinsfolk within the court resulting in the accusation of practising the black arts. He took refuge with his kinsmen Alphege, Bishop of Winchester, at whose persuasion and in the context of a serious illness he became a monk.

Dunstan lived as a hermit until Aethelstan's successor Edmund recalled him to be one of his counsellors. His enemies had him expelled again but Edmund revoked the order and in 943 made Dunstan Abbot of Glastonbury. Under him, Glastonbury Abbey became a famous school and monastic life revived. Edmund's successor Edred left the administration of the kingdom largely in Dunstan's control. He sought to establish royal authority, uproot heathenism, reform the clergy and laity and conciliate the Danish contingent. In 955 Edwy acceded to the throne and again Dunstan's fortunes eclipsed. Having given offence to the king's wife Aelfgifu, Dunstan was outlawed and driven out, seeking refuge in Flanders. In 957 the Northumbrians and Mercians revolted and chose Edgar as king. Dunstan was recalled and made Bishop of Worcester and London. in 959 Edwy died leaving Edgar as sole king. Dunstan was then appointed Archbishop of Canterbury. On Edgar's death in 975 Dunstan secured the crown for Edward who was brutally murdered in 978. Upon the accession of Aethelred, Dunstan's public ministry came to an end. He retired to Canterbury where he reposed on 19 May in the year 988.

Among his foundations were Peterborough, Ely and Thorney. He reformed monasticism under the strict Benedictine Rule and by his program of church rebuilding and promoting education endeavoured to uplift the people.

St. Dwynwen and Llanddwyn Island
f.d. 25 January

Llan originally meant a clearing or a piece of consecrated ground, possibly with a monastic cell on it.  Later Llan came to mean a church and the part that follows is usually the saint's name to whom the church was dedicated:-

Dwynwen East

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