Litany of Saints
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John of Beverley

8th‑century Anglo‑Saxon bishop of Hexham and York, early medieval English saint

SaintResearchedKingdom of NorthumbriaBenedictinesDate unknown

Feast: 7 May (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)

Born
700
Died
7 May 721
verified
Beatified
not on record
Canonised
1037
by Pope Benedict IX

Who they were

John, born at Harpham in Yorkshire, was educated under Archbishop Theodore, became a Benedictine at St Hilda's Whitby, and was renowned as a preacher and interpreter of Scripture. Consecrated Bishop of Hexham in 687, he often withdrew for solitude, especially in Lent.

He became Bishop of York, diligent in visitation and kind to the poor. He retired to Beverley and died there on 7 May 721.

The miracles

The Catholic Encyclopedia does not describe the miracles approved in the cause.

Why that counted as sanctity

A scholarly bishop who loved solitude and the poor.

Connected on this site

Sources

Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.

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