Memorial for Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne

The Collect

O ALMIGHTY God, who in thy providence didst choose thy servant Aidan to be an apostle to the people of England, to bring those who where wandering in darkness and error to the true light and knowledge of thee: Grant us so to walk in that light, that we may come at last to the light of everlasting life; through the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

(Readings: 1 Corinthians ix. 16; St. Matthew xix. 27)

Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne; pray for us.

Aidan was a Christian monk who restored peace in the war-ravaged kingdom of Northumbria early in the seventh century.

In the year 631 pagan invaders wrecked all the churches in this kingdom, which covered much of northeastern England. Its king asked the Irish monks at Iona for help in restoring Christianity among his people. First they sent a bishop who regarded his Anglo-Saxon flock as obstinate and uncivilized; he soon became disgruntled and returned to Iona. Then the monks chose Aidan, had him consecrated bishop, and sent him to Northumbria.

Aidan established a monastery on an island called Lindisfarne. This allowed him to come and go among the people as he wished. As the Venerable Bede later said of him: “Aidan used to travel everywhere on foot ... in order that, as he walked along, whenever he saw people, whether rich or poor, he might at once approach them and, if they were unbelievers, invite them to accept the mystery of the faith; or, if they were believers, that he might strengthen them in the faith, urging them by word and deed to practise almsgiving and good works.” As he journeyed, Aidan founded monasteries and saw to the building of churches; he taught the people how to use fasting and meditation on the Scriptures to strengthen their faith; and he obtained freedom for children who were held as slaves. Finally, because of his obvious holiness and care for the poor, he was able to bear effective witness against the rich and powerful when they exploited or oppressed their neighbours.

Aidan spent just over a decade in mission-work, then retired from Lindisfarne to a much smaller island nearby in order to give himself entirely to prayer and contemplation. There he died in the year 651, beloved by God and by the people of Northumbria.

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Memorial for Chad, Missionary & First Bishop of Lichfield

The Collect

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who didst enkindle the flame of thy love in the heart of thy servant Chad: Grant to us, thy humble servants, the same faith and power of love; that, as we rejoice in his triumph, we may profit by his example, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Readings: (Acts i. 1; Saint Luke x. 1)


Chad (died 2 March 672) was a 7th century Anglo-Saxon churchman, Bishop of the Northumbrians and subsequently Bishop of the Mercians and Lindsey People. He was later canonised as a saint. He features strongly in the work of Bede the Venerable and is credited with introducing Christianity to the Mercian kingdom.

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Memorial for Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester

 The Collect

O GOD, the light of the faithful and shepherd of souls, who didst call thy servant Wulfstan to feed thy sheep by his word, and guide them by his example: Grant us, we pray thee, to keep the faith which he taught, and to follow in his footsteps, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Wulfstan was an English bishop. It is believed that he started his ecclesiastical career as a Benedictine monk, becoming the Bishop of London in 996. In 1002 he was elected simultaneously to the diocese of Worcester and the archdiocese of York, holding both in plurality until 1016, when he relinquished Worcester but remained the Archbishop of York until his death.

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Documentary: Henry VIII & Early Anglicanism

This video tells the story of Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon, and Anne Boleyn. It also tells the story about how early Anglicanism was formed under Thomas Cromwell and Thomas Cranmer.

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