Pre-Congregation Roman Catholic Saint. Born about AD 639 in Wessex, England, and was, in all accounts, of a noble, if not royal lineage. His parents were almost surely recent converts to Christianity which had only reached Wessex in the decade before his birth. He was educated at Malmesbury by an Irish Christian known as Maildub. After a pilgrimage to Canterbury, he returned to Malmesbury and introduced a Benedictine discipline at the Abbey. He was elected as the first abbot of the order in 675. During his tenure, the abbey prospered, and became a center of learning. He spoke and wrote Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, and he was considered one of the pre-eminent scholars of his time He was the first Englishman to promote classical learning in England. He is considered a founder of Anglo-Latin poetry. He was a skilled musician, playing the harp, fiddle, and pipes, and was reputed to be a talented singer, who attracted scholars from abroad. Some of his Latin writings survive, including a collection of riddles. He also founded St. Lawrence monastery in Bradford-on-Avon. He served as an advisor to King Ina of Wessex. He made pilgrimage to Rome and presented himself to Pope Sergius I. In 705, he was appointed Bishop of the newly created diocese of Sherborne. He held the position until his death at Doulting in Somerset in 709. His body was returned to Malmesbury for interment, where claims were made that miracles occurred at his shrine. He was canonized in 1080. In iconic art he is often depicted as a bishop in a library.
Pre-Congregation Roman Catholic Saint. Born about AD 639 in Wessex, England, and was, in all accounts, of a noble, if not royal lineage. His parents were almost surely recent converts to Christianity which had only reached Wessex in the decade before his birth. He was educated at Malmesbury by an Irish Christian known as Maildub. After a pilgrimage to Canterbury, he returned to Malmesbury and introduced a Benedictine discipline at the Abbey. He was elected as the first abbot of the order in 675. During his tenure, the abbey prospered, and became a center of learning. He spoke and wrote Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, and he was considered one of the pre-eminent scholars of his time He was the first Englishman to promote classical learning in England. He is considered a founder of Anglo-Latin poetry. He was a skilled musician, playing the harp, fiddle, and pipes, and was reputed to be a talented singer, who attracted scholars from abroad. Some of his Latin writings survive, including a collection of riddles. He also founded St. Lawrence monastery in Bradford-on-Avon. He served as an advisor to King Ina of Wessex. He made pilgrimage to Rome and presented himself to Pope Sergius I. In 705, he was appointed Bishop of the newly created diocese of Sherborne. He held the position until his death at Doulting in Somerset in 709. His body was returned to Malmesbury for interment, where claims were made that miracles occurred at his shrine. He was canonized in 1080. In iconic art he is often depicted as a bishop in a library.
Bio by: Iola
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