Cedd
Cedd (died 664) was a Northumbrian-born Anglo-Saxon monk and bishop active in the mid-7th century, renowned for his missionary efforts in converting the East Saxons and Middle Angles to Christianity under the influence of the Lindisfarne community. Trained at the monastery on Lindisfarne by Aidan, Cedd was one of four brothers—all ordained priests—who contributed to the evangelization of northern England, with his sibling Chad later becoming bishop of the Mercians.[1] Consecrated bishop by Finan of Lindisfarne around 653, he first preached successfully among the Middle Angles, establishing a church, before being invited by King Sigeberht the Good to evangelize the East Saxons, where he founded a bishopric at London and constructed its first church.
In Northumbria, Cedd received land from King Ethelwald of Deira to establish Lastingham monastery, which he consecrated through prolonged fasting and prayer, adhering to Irish ascetic practices.[1] He participated as interpreter at the Synod of Whitby in 664, advocating for the Roman computation of Easter despite prior adherence to Celtic usages, marking a pivotal shift in English church alignment. Cedd died of a plague outbreak at Lastingham later that year, shortly after returning from a visit to London, and was buried there; the site became a center for his cult, underscoring his role in bridging Celtic and Roman traditions amid the consolidation of Christianity in Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.[1]