Eadfrith of Lindisfarne

Saint Edfrith

Incipit of the Gospel of Matthew from the Lindisfarne Gospels, an illuminated manuscript said to have been created by Eadfrith

Bishop of Lindisfarne
Born| 654
Died| 721 or 722
Venerated in| Eastern Orthodox Church[1]
Anglican Communion
Roman Catholic Church
Feast| June 4

Eadfrith of Lindisfarne (died 721), also known as Saint Eadfrith, was Bishop of Lindisfarne, probably from 698 onwards. By the twelfth century it was believed that Eadfrith succeeded Eadberht and nothing in the surviving records contradicts this belief.[2] Lindisfarne was among the main religious sites of the kingdom of Northumbria in the early eighth century, the resting place of Saints Aidan and Cuthbert.[3] He is venerated as a Saint in the Roman Catholic Church, and in the Eastern Orthodox Church, as also in the Anglican Communion.

## Life

[edit]

A colophon added to the Lindisfarne Gospels in the tenth century states that Eadfrith was the scribe and artist responsible for the work. The Lindisfarne Gospels were the product of a single scribe and illustrator, working full-time over a period of about two years. For this reason, many historians who accept that the work was authored by Eadfrith in person date it to the period before he became bishop. Not all historians accept that he was the scribe: some argue that he may have commissioned the work rather than creating it in person; some reject the association as an unreliable tradition. Michelle Brown, "Lindisfarne Gospels" argues for Eadfrith being the artist and scribe, working on it as eremitic devotional act in the Columban tradition from 715-722 (dated on textual grounds of the liturgies marked by initials therein and historical context), and the main architect of the cult of St Cuthbert.[4]

Contemporary witnesses to Eadberht's episcopacy portray him as a supporter of the cult of Saint Cuthbert. He commissioned three lives of the Saint, the first by an anonymous writer, written between 699 and 705. This Anonymous Life of Saint Cuthbert was revised on Eadfrith's orders by Bede, writing around 720, to produce both prose and verse lives.[5]

Eadfrith also oversaw the restoration of the hermitage on Farne where Cuthbert had often lived.[6] He is named in Æthelwulf's ninth century poem De abbatibus as having advised Eanmund, first abbot of a monastery—its name and location are unknown—founded during the reign of King Osred.[7]

When Lindisfarne was abandoned in the late ninth century, Eadfrith's remains were among those taken on the community's long wanderings through Northumbria. The relics of Saint Cuthbert, and those of Eadfrith along with them, eventually found a new home at Chester-le-Street, where they remained for a century. In 995 the relics were translated to Durham Cathedral. At Durham Eadfrith, along with his predecessor Eadberht and successor Æthelwold, was commemorated on 4 June.[8]

## Citations

[edit]

1. ^ Hutchinson-Hall, John (Ellsworth). Orthodox Saints of the British Isles. Vol II (St. Eadfrith Press, 2014) p. 158
2. ^ Dates after Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology, p. 219; Thacker, "Eadfrith".
3. ^ Blair, "Lindifarne"; Alcock, Kings and warriors, p. 78.
4. ^ For arguments in favour of Eadfrith as the creator, see Thacker, "Eadfrith"; Blair, Introduction to Anglo-Saxon England, pp. 316–317; Blair, World of Bede, p. 230. For a full discussion of the manuscript, which accompanied the 2003 facsimile, see Brown, "Lindisfarne Gospels"; Alcock, Kings and warriors, pp. 304–305 & 308.
5. ^ Thacker, "Eadfrith"; Thacker, "Cuthbert"; Blair, World of Bede, p. 202.
6. ^ "Northern Saints", 'This is Durham', Durham County Council
7. ^ Thacker, "Eadfrith".
8. ^ Thacker, "Eadfrith"; Thacker, "Cuthbert"; Blair, Introduction to Anglo-Saxon England, pp. 84–85.

## References

[edit]

* Alcock, Leslie (2003), Kings and warriors, craftsmen and priests in Northern Britain AD 550–850, Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, ISBN 0-903903-24-5
* Blair, John (1999), "Lindisfarne", in Lapidge, Michael (ed.), The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Anglo-Saxon England, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 287–288, ISBN 0-631-22492-0
* Blair, Peter Hunter (1977), An Introduction to Anglo-Saxon England (2nd ed.), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-29219-0
* Blair, Peter Hunter (1990), The World of Bede (2nd ed.), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-39138-5
* Brown, Michelle P. (1999), "Lindisfarne Gospels", in Lapidge, Michael (ed.), The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Anglo-Saxon England, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 288–289, ISBN 0-631-22492-0
* Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology (Third revised ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
* Thacker, Alan (1999), "St. Cuthbert", in Lapidge, Michael (ed.), The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Anglo-Saxon England, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 131–133, ISBN 0-631-22492-0
* Thacker, Alan (2004). "Eadfrid or Eadfrith (d. 721)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/8381. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Lindisfarne Gospels (710-721) - BL Cotton MS Nero D IV at Wikimedia Commons
* Eadfrith 3 at Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England
* The Lindisfarne Gospels
* British Library feature on The Lindisfarne Gospels
* Bede's Life of Saint Cuthbert dedicated to Eadfrith

Christian titles

Preceded by

Eadberht

|  Bishop of Lindisfarne
698–721  | Succeeded by

Æthelwald

* v
* t
* e

Bishops of Durham

Bishops of Lindisfarne|

* Aidan
* Finan
* Colmán
* Tuda
* United to York
* Eata
* Cuthbert
* Eadberht
* Eadfrith
* Æthelwold
* Cynewulf
* Higbald
* Egbert
* Heathwred
* Ecgred
* Eanbert
* Eardulf

Bishops of Chester-le-Street|

* Eardulf
* Cutheard
* Tilred
* Wigred
* Uhtred
* Sexhelm
* Ealdred
* Ælfsige
* Aldhun

High Medieval Bishops of Durham|

* Aldhun
* Edmund
* Eadred
* Æthelric
* Æthelwine

High Medieval Bishops
rulers of the County Palatine of Durham

* Walcher
* William de St-Calais
* Ranulf Flambard
* Geoffrey Rufus
* William Cumin
* William of St. Barbara
* Hugh de Puiset
* Philip of Poitou
* Richard Poore
* John de Gray
* Morgan
* Richard Marsh
* William Scot
* Richard Poore
* Thomas de Melsonby
* Nicholas Farnham
* Walter of Kirkham
* Robert Stitchill
* Robert of Holy Island
* Antony Bek

Late Medieval Bishops
rulers of the County Palatine of Durham

* Richard Kellaw
* Lewis de Beaumont
* Richard de Bury
* Thomas Hatfield
* John Fordham
* Walter Skirlaw
* Thomas Langley
* Robert Neville
* Lawrence Booth
* William Dudley
* John Sherwood
* Richard Foxe

Early modern Bishops
rulers of the County Palatine of Durham

* William Senhouse
* Christopher Bainbridge
* Thomas Ruthall
* Thomas Wolsey
* Cuthbert Tunstall
* James Pilkington
* Richard Barnes
* Matthew Hutton
* Tobias Matthew
* William James
* Richard Neile
* George Montaigne
* John Howson
* Thomas Morton
* Episcopacy abolished (Commonwealth)
* John Cosin
* Nathaniel Crew
* William Talbot
* Edward Chandler
* Joseph Butler
* Richard Trevor
* John Egerton
* Thomas Thurlow
* Shute Barrington
* William Van Mildert

Late modern Bishops|

* Edward Maltby
* Charles Longley
* Henry Montagu Villiers
* Charles Baring
* J. B. Lightfoot
* Brooke Foss Westcott
* Handley Moule
* Hensley Henson
* Alwyn Williams
* Michael Ramsey
* Maurice Harland
* Ian Ramsey
* John Habgood
* David Jenkins
* Michael Turnbull
* N. T. Wright
* Justin Welby
* Paul Butler

* v
* t
* e

Saints of Anglo-Saxon England

British / Welsh|

* Aldate of Oxford
* Barloc of Norbury
* Brannoc of Braunton
* Branwalator of Milton
* Credan of Evesham
* Congar of Congresbury
* Dachuna of Bodmin
* Decuman of Watchet
* Elfin of Warrington
* Ivo of Ramsey
* Judoc of Winchester
* Melorius of Amesbury
* Nectan of Hartland
* Neot of Cornwall
* Patrick of Glastonbury
* Rumon of Tavistock
* Samson of Dol
* Sativola of Exeter

East Anglian|

* Æthelberht of East Anglia
* Æthelburh of Faremoutiers
* Æthelflæd of Ramsey
* Æthelthryth of Ely
* Æthelwine of Lindsey
* Athwulf of Thorney
* Blida of Martham
* Botwulf of Thorney
* Cissa of Crowland
* Cuthbald of Peterborough
* Eadmund of East Anglia
* Eadnoth of Ramsey
* Guthlac of Crowland
* Herefrith of Thorney
* Hiurmine of Blythburgh
* Huna of Thorney
* Pega of Peakirk
* Seaxburh of Ely
* Sigeberht of East Anglia
* Tancred of Thorney
* Torthred of Thorney
* Tova of Thorney
* Walstan of Bawburgh
* Wendreda
* Wihtburh of Ely
* Wulfric of Holme

East Saxon|

* Æthelburh of Barking
* Earconwald of London
* Hildelith of Barking
* Osgyth
* Sæbbi of London

Frisian,
Frankish
and Old Saxon|

* Balthild of Romsey
* Bertha of Kent
* Felix of Dommoc
* Helier of Jersey
* Grimbald of St Bertin
* Monegunda of Watton
* Odwulf of Evesham
* Wulfram of Grantham

Irish and Scottish|

* Aidan of Lindisfarne
* Boisil of Melrose
* Echa of Crayke
* Ultan the Scribe
* Indract of Glastonbury
* Maildub of Malmesbury

Kentish|

* Æbbe of Thanet (Domne Eafe)
* Æthelberht of Kent
* Æthelburh of Kent
* Æthelred of Kent
* Albinus of Canterbury
* Berhtwald of Canterbury
* Deusdedit of Canterbury
* Edburga of Minster-in-Thanet
* Eanswith of Folkestone
* Eormengyth of Thanet
* Mildrith of Thanet
* Nothhelm of Canterbury
* Sigeburh of Thanet

Mercian|

* Ælfnoth of Stowe
* Ælfthryth of Crowland
* Æthelberht of Bedford
* Æthelmod of Leominster
* Æthelred of Mercia
* Æthelwynn of Sodbury
* Aldwyn of Coln
* Beonna of Breedon
* Beorhthelm of Stafford
* Coenwulf of Mercia
* Cotta of Breedon
* Credan of Evesham
* Cyneburh of Castor
* Cyneburh of Gloucester
* Cynehelm of Winchcombe
* Cyneswith of Peterborough
* Eadburh of Bicester
* Eadburh of Pershore
* Eadburh of Southwell
* Eadgyth of Aylesbury
* Eadweard of Maugersbury
* Ealdgyth of Stortford
* Egwin of Evesham
* Freomund of Mercia
* Frithuric of Breedon
* Frithuswith of Oxford
* Frithuwold of Chertsey
* Hæmma of Leominster
* Merefin
* Mildburh of Wenlock
* Mildgyth
* Mildrith of Thanet
* Milred of Worcester
* Oda of Canterbury
* Oswald of Worcester
* Osburh of Coventry
* Regenhere of Northampton
* Rumbold of Buckingham
* Tibba of Ryhall
* Werburgh of Chester
* Wærstan
* Wigstan of Repton
* Wulfhild of Barking

Northumbrian|

* Acca of Hexham
* Æbbe "the Elder" of Coldingham
* Æbbe "the Younger" of Coldingham
* Ælfflæd of Whitby
* Ælfwald of Northumbria
* Æthelburh of Hackness
* Æthelgyth of Coldingham
* Æthelsige of Ripon
* Æthelwold of Farne
* Æthelwold of Lindisfarne
* Alchhild of Middleham
* Alchmund of Hexham
* Alkmund of Derby
* Balthere of Tyningham
* Beda of Jarrow
* Bega of Copeland
* Benedict Biscop
* Bercthun of Beverley
* Billfrith of Lindisfarne
* Bosa of York
* Botwine of Ripon
* Ceadda of Lichfield
* Cedd of Lichfield
* Ceolfrith of Monkwearmouth
* Ceolwulf of Northumbria
* Cuthbert of Durham
* Dryhthelm of Melrose
* Eadberht of Lindisfarne
* Eadfrith of Leominster
* Eadfrith of Lindisfarne
* Eadwine of Northumbria
* Ealdberht of Ripon
* Eanmund
* Eardwulf of Northumbria
* Eata of Hexham
* Ecgberht of Ripon
* Eoda
* Eosterwine of Monkwearmouth
* Hilda of Whitby
* Hyglac
* Iwig of Wilton
* John of Beverley
* Osana of Howden
* Osthryth of Bardney
* Oswald of Northumbria
* Oswine of Northumbria
* Sicgred of Ripon
* Sigfrith of Monkwearmouth
* Tatberht of Ripon
* Wihtberht of Ripon
* Wilfrith of Hexham
* Wilfrith II
* Wilgils of Ripon

Roman|

* Augustine of Canterbury
* Firmin of North Crawley
* Birinus of Dorchester
* Florentius of Peterborough
* Hadrian of Canterbury
* Honorius of Canterbury
* James the Deacon
* Justus of Canterbury
* Laurence of Canterbury
* Mellitus of Canterbury
* Paulinus of York
* Peter of Canterbury
* Theodore of Canterbury

South Saxon|

* Cuthflæd of Lyminster
* Cuthmann of Steyning
* Lewina of Bishopstone

West Saxon|

* Ælfgar of Selwood
* Ælfgifu of Exeter
* Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury
* Ælfheah of Canterbury
* Ælfheah of Winchester
* Æthelflæd of Romsey
* Æthelgar of Canterbury
* Æthelnoth of Canterbury
* Æthelwine of Athelney
* Æthelwold of Winchester
* Aldhelm of Sherborne
* Benignus of Glastonbury
* Beocca of Chertsey
* Beorhthelm of Shaftesbury
* Beornstan of Winchester
* Beornwald of Bampton
* Centwine of Wessex
* Cuthburh of Wimborn
* Cwenburh of Wimborne
* Dunstan of Canterbury
* Eadburh of Winchester
* Eadgar of England
* Eadgyth of Polesworth
* Eadgyth of Wilton
* Eadweard the Confessor
* Eadweard the Martyr
* Eadwold of Cerne
* Earmund of Stoke Fleming
* Edor of Chertsey
* Evorhilda
* Frithestan of Winchester
* Hædde of Winchester
* Humbert of Stokenham
* Hwita of Whitchurch Canonicorum
* Mærwynn of Romsey
* Margaret of Dunfermline
* Swithhun of Winchester
* Wulfsige of Sherborne
* Wulfthryth of Wilton

Unclear origin|

* Arilda of Oldbury
* Juthwara of Sherbourne
* Rumbold of Mechlin
* Urith of Chittlehampton

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

Artists|

* ULAN

7th and 8th-century Bishop of Lindisfarne and saint
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template