Eadfrith of Leominster also known as Eadridus (died 675) was a seventh century Catholic saint [1] from Anglo-Saxon England. [2] Although very little is known of his early life, he is an important figure in the process of Christianisation of Anglo-Saxon England.
Eadfrith came from Northumbria and worked as a missionary to the Hwicce kingdom and in 660 converted King Merewalh of the Hwicce, a contemporary (and possibly son) [3] of King Penda of Mercia. [4]
Around 660 Eadfrith also founded Leominster Abbey for women, [5] [6] as a conventual priory of the monks of Reading Abbey. [7] This abbey was mentioned in the Domesday Book and was re-founded about 1139. [8] at which time it may have been associated with the royal family. [9]
Eadfrith is known to history mainly through the hagiography of the Secgan Manuscript, [10] but also the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle [11] and the Catalogus sanctorum pausantium in Anglia. [12]
Eadfrith died in 675 [13] and was buried in Leominster. His feast day is on 26 October. [14]
References
- ^ The Oxford Dictionary of Saints
- ^ Patrick Sims-Williams, Religion and Literature in Western England, 600-800 ( Cambridge University Press, 2005) p 101.
- ^ Kentish royal legend.
- ^ Patrick Sims-Williams, Religion and Literature in Western England, 600-800 ( Cambridge University Press, 2005) p55.
- ^ Gerarld Alymer, Hereford Cathedral (Continuum, 2000) p.4
- ^ Sarah Foot, Veiled Women, vol. 1, and vol. 2 103-107(Ashgate, 2000)
- ^ J. & C. Hillaby, Leominster Minster, Priory, and Borough c.660-1539 (Logaston Press, Almeley, Herefs. 2006), p53.
- ^ Leominster Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine at monasticmatrix.com.
- ^ Gerarld Alymer, Hereford Cathedral (Continuum, 2000) p.4
- ^ Stowe MS 944, British Library
- ^ Anglo-Saxon Chronicle manuscript C (1046).
- ^ British Library MS Harley 3776, fos. 118-127
- ^ Eadfrid at Book of Saints, 1921.
- ^ St. Eadfrid at Catholic.org