Benedict

Also known as: Abbot Benedict / Abbot Biscop / Biscop · Family: Britons · Role: abbot and monastery founder · First appears: Book IV · Chap. XVIII

Around c. 678, Benedict built a monastery in Britain with Egfrid’s consent and gift of land, then went to Rome with Ceolfrid, his companion and fellow-labourer, who later became abbot there. Pope Agatho granted him a letter of privilege securing the monastery’s immunities, and Benedict was allowed to take John to Britain, where John taught the singers the yearly order of singing and reading and recorded what was needed for the festivals.

In Book V, Earconbert gave Wilfrid to Benedict as a companion and ordered Wilfrid to conduct him to Rome. Benedict also educated Bede, who had been given to him at seven years of age and was afterwards taught by Ceolfrid; Bede later remembered him among the abbots of the monastery “in which I rejoice to serve the Divine Goodness.”

Relationship record

Life events

• c. 678 · Benedict built a monastery with King Egfrid’s consent and gift of land.(Book IV · Chap. XVIII · 📍 Britain)
  • With: Egfrid
  • “by whose consent and gift of land he had built that monastery.”
• c. 678 · Pope Agatho granted Benedict a letter of privilege securing the monastery’s immunities.(Book IV · Chap. XVIII)
  • With: Pope Agatho
  • “from whom he also asked and obtained, in order to secure the immunities of the monastery which he had founded, a letter of privilege confirmed by apostolic authority”
• c. 678 · John taught singing and reading to the monastery’s singers and recorded the yearly liturgy.(Book IV · Chap. XVIII)
  • With: John
  • “The Abbot John did as he had been commanded by the Pope, teaching the singers of the said monastery the order and manner of singing and reading aloud, and committing to writing all that was requisite throughout the whole course of the year for the celebration of festivals”

Book IV · Chap. XVIII

• with John (Benedict took John with him to Britain.) “He was also allowed to take the aforesaid Abbot John with him into Britain, that he might teach in his monastery the system of singing throughout the year, as it was practised at St. Peter’s at Rome.”
• with Ceolfrid (Ceolfrid was Benedict’s companion and fellow-labourer.) “For the said Benedict, having built a monastery in Britain, in honour of the most blessed chief of the Apostles, at the mouth of the river Wear, went to Rome with Ceolfrid, his companion and fellow-labourer in that work, who was after him abbot of the same monastery”
• patron: Egfrid (Egfrid consented to and granted land for Benedict’s monastery.) “according to what he knew to be the will and grant of King Egfrid, by whose consent and gift of land he had built that monastery.”
• patron: Pope Agatho (Agatho granted Benedict a privilege protecting the monastery’s immunities.) “he had been several times before at Rome, and was now honourably received by Pope Agatho of blessed memory; from whom he also asked and obtained, in order to secure the immunities of the monastery which he had founded, a letter of privilege confirmed by apostolic authority”
• with Pope Agatho (Benedict asked Agatho for a letter of privilege.) “from whom he also asked and obtained, in order to secure the immunities of the monastery which he had founded, a letter of privilege confirmed by apostolic authority”

Book V · Chap. XIX · part 1

• with Earconbert (The king directed Wilfrid to accompany Benedict to Rome.) “The king gave him Wilfrid for a companion, and bade Wilfrid conduct him to Rome.”
• with Wilfrid (Wilfrid was assigned as Benedict’s companion.) “The king gave him Wilfrid for a companion, and bade Wilfrid conduct him to Rome.”

Book V · Chap. XXIV · part 1

• ward: Bede “Having been born in the territory of that same monastery, I was given, by the care of kinsmen, at seven years of age, to be educated by the most reverend Abbot Benedict, and afterwards by Ceolfrid.”
• pupil: Bede “I was given, by the care of kinsmen, at seven years of age, to be educated by the most reverend Abbot Benedict”
• mentor: Bede “I was given, by the care of kinsmen, at seven years of age, to be educated by the most reverend Abbot Benedict, and afterwards by Ceolfrid”
• with Bede (interaction) “The History of the Abbots of this monastery, in which I rejoice to serve the Divine Goodness, to wit, Benedict, Ceolfrid, and Huaetbert, in two books.”

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Extracted from the original text of Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England. Made with Rho MD.