Ceolfrith
Anglo-Saxon Christian abbot
Feast: 29 September (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Ceolfrith, of high Anglo-Saxon nobility, became a monk at Ripon under St Wilfrid at eighteen and was ordained there. As novice-master he was known for his deep humility and love of menial work.
St Benedict Biscop made him prior of Wearmouth, and at Benedict's death in 690 he succeeded him as abbot of Wearmouth and Jarrow; St Bede, his disciple, praised his extraordinary diligence. He died at Langres on his last journey to Rome, on 29 September 716.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.
Why that counted as sanctity
A humble abbot who taught St Bede and carried on Benedict Biscop's work.
Connected on this site
- Bede Saint Pupil
- Benedict Biscop Saint“St Benedict Biscop made him prior of Wearmouth, and at Benedict's death in 690 he succeeded him as abbot of Wearmouth and Jarrow; St Bede, his disciple, praised his extraordinary diligence.” — this site's research
- Gregory II Saint“He died in Burgundy while en route to deliver a copy of the codex to Pope Gregory II in Rome.” — Wikipedia
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. Ceolfrid
- Wikidata Q1054504 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Ceolfrith (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.