21 June 2020

A calendar of the Pre-Schismatic Saints of Britain


THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS AND EVER-VIRGIN MARY
Our Lady of Walsingham ☩ (15 Oct)

THE HOLY, GLORIOUS AND ALL-LAUDABLE LEADERS OF THE APOSTLES
Apostle Peter (29 Jun)
Apostle Paul (29 Jun)

THE FOUR PATRONS OF BRITAIN
Holy and All-Laudable First-Called Apostle Andrew (30 Nov)
Holy Hierarch Dewi of Mynyw, Bishop of Wales (1 Mar)
Holy Hierarch Padrig of Armagh, Enlightener of Ireland (17 Mar)
Greatmartyr, Victory-Bearer and Wonderworker George of Lydda (23 Apr)

THE FIRST MARTYRS AND ENLIGHTENERS OF BRITAIN
Holy Apostle Aristobulus of the Seventy, Bishop of Britain (16 Mar)
Alban, Protomartyr of Britain (22 Jun)
Holy Priestmartyr Amphibalus of Verulamium (25 Jun)
Martyrs Aaron and Julius of Caerleon (1 Jul)
Righteous Joseph of Arimathæa (31 Jul)

THE HOLY SAINTS OF BRITAIN
Dryhthelm of Melrose (1 Sep)
Heiu of Tadcaster (2 Sep)
Ealhmund of Hexham (7 Sep)
Wulfþrýð of Wilton (9 Sep)
Wulfhild of Barking (9 Sep)
Ciarán ‘the Younger’ of Clonmacnoise (9 Sep)
Deiniol of Bangor (11 Sep)
Ailbe of Emly (12 Sep)
Éanswíþ of Folkestone (12 Sep)
Éadgýð of Wilton (16 Sep)
Theodore of Tarsos (19 Sep)
Adamnán of Iona (23 Sep)
Ceolfrið of Jarrow (25 Sep)
Barrwg of Ynys Barri (27 Sep)
Leoba of Schornsheim (28 Sep)
Tetta of Wimbourne (28 Sep)
Sadwrn ‘the Knight’ of Llansadwrn (29 Sep)
Honorius of Canterbury (30 Sep)
Máel Dub of Malmesbury (2 Oct)
Fragan of Armorica (3 Oct)
Ósg‎ýð of Chich (7 Oct)
Cynog of Powys (7 Oct)
Tanwg of Harlech (10 Oct)
Iestyn of Anglesey (10 Oct)
Paulinus of York (10 Oct)
James the Deacon (11 Oct)
Æþelburg of Barking (11 Oct)
Éadwine of Northumbria (12 Oct)
Wilfrið of Ripon (12 Oct)
Harold of England (14 Oct)
Nóðhelm of Canterbury (17 Oct)
Gwen of Talgarth (18 Oct)
Friðuswíþ of Oxford (19 Oct)
Acca of Hexham (20 Oct)
Mellon of Rouen (22 Oct)
Maelor of Sark (24 Oct)
Gwynnog of Llanwonno (26 Oct)
Eata of Hexham (26 Oct)
Ælfrǽd ‘the Great’ of Wessex (26 Oct)
Éadsige of Canterbury (28 Oct)
Sigeberht of East Anglia (29 Oct)
Æþelnóð of Canterbury (30 Oct)
Cadfan of Bardsey (1 Nov)
Erc of Slane (2 Nov)
Gwyddfarch of Meifod (3 Nov)
Gwenffrewi of Gwytherin (3 Nov)
Byrnstán of Winchester (4 Nov)
Kea of Devon and Cornwall (5 Nov)
Fili of Cornwall (5 Nov)
Illtud ‘the Knight’ of Llanilltud Fawr (6 Nov)
Cyngar of Congresbury (7 Nov)
Gwyddnog of Padstow (7 Nov)
Cybi ‘the Tawny’ of Caer Gybi (8 Nov)
Tysilio of Brittany (8 Nov)
Pabo the ‘Pillar of Britain’ (9 Nov)
Justus of Canterbury (10 Nov)
Elaeth of Anglesey (11 Nov)
Lebuin of Deventer (12 Nov)
Dyfrig of Wales (14 Nov)
Malo of Aleth (15 Nov)
Hild of Whitby (17 Nov)
Juðwara of Dorset (18 Nov)
Maodez of Brittany (18 Nov)
Æbbe of Minster (19 Nov)
Bernward of Hildesheim (20 Nov)
Éadmund of East Anglia (20 Nov)
Columbán of Luxeuil (21 Nov)
Éanflæd of Whitby (24 Nov)
Cyngar of Congresbury (27 Nov)
Ælfríc of Abingdon (28 Nov)
Tudwal of Tréguier (30 Nov)
Berin of Dorchester (3 Dec)
Stinan of Ramsey Island (5 Dec)
Beuzeg of Dol (8 Dec)
Éadburg of Thanet (12 Dec)
Fionnán of Clonard (12 Dec)
Corentin of Quimper (12 Dec)
Hygebald of Hibaldstow (14 Dec)
Drostan of Deer (15 Dec)
Judicaël of Brittany (17 Dec)
Sturm of Fulda (17 Dec)
Wynnebald of Heidenheim (18 Dec)
Hildalíþ of Barking (22 Dec)
Ecgwine of Worcester (30 Dec)
Mael Rhys of Bardsey (1 Jan)
Tyfrydog of Anglesey (1 Jan)
Peter of Canterbury (6 Jan)
Cedd of Lastingham (7 Jan)
Cwyllog of Anglesey (7 Jan)
Hadrian of Canterbury (9 Jan)
Beorhtwald of Canterbury (9 Jan)
Sǽþrýð of Faremoutiers (10 Jan)
Benedict Biscop of Wearmouth (12 Jan)
Eilian of Cornwall (13 Jan)
Cyndeyrn ‘Mungo’ of Glasgow (14 Jan)
Íte of Killeedy (15 Jan)
Ceolwulf of Lindisfarne (15 Jan)
Fursa of Burgh (16 Jan)
Mildgýð of Minster (17 Jan)
Theodosius ‘the Great’ of Rome (17 Jan)
Ninnidh ‘the One-Eyed’ of Inishmacsaint (18 Jan)
Cadog ‘the Wise’ of Llancarfan (24 Jan)
Dwynwen of Llanddwyn (25 Jan)
Torhtgýð of Barking (26 Jan)
Gildas ‘the Historian’ of Rhuys (29 Jan)
Bealdhild of Ascania (30 Jan)
Brigid of Kildare (1 Feb)
Seiriol ‘the Fair’ of Penmon (1 Feb)
Euny of Lelant (2 Feb)
Ia of St Ives (3 Feb)
Laurence of Canterbury (3 Feb)
Wærburg of Ely (3 Feb)
Ansgar of Bremen (3 Feb)
Rimbert of Bremen (4 Feb)
Eborius of York (6 Feb)
Restitutus of London (6 Feb)
Adelphius the Bishop (6 Feb)
Richard of Wessex (7 Feb)
Iago of Saint-Jacut (8 Feb)
Ælfflæd of Whitby (8 Feb)
Teilo of Llandeilo Fawr and Llandaff (9 Feb)
Cædmon of Whitby (11 Feb)
Æþelwold of Lindisfarne (12 Feb)
Eormenhild of Ely (13 Feb)
Æþelgár of Canterbury (13 Feb)
Sigefrið of Växjö (15 Feb)
Finan of Lindisfarne (17 Feb)
Colmán of Lindisfarne (18 Feb)
Mildburg of Much Wenlock (23 Feb)
Boisil of Melrose (23 Feb)
Æþelberht of Kent (24 Feb)
Wealdburg of Heidenheim (25 Feb)
Ósweald of Worcester (28 Feb)
Swiðberht of Kaiserswerth (1 Mar)
Ceadda of Lichfield (2 Mar)
Non of Dirinon (2 Mar)
Gwenolau of Landévennec (3 Mar)
Piran of Perranzabuloe (5 Mar)
Billfrið of Lindisfarne (6 Mar)
Balthere of Lindisfarne (6 Mar)
Cyneburg of Peterborough (6 Mar)
Cyneswíþ of Peterborough (6 Mar)
Tibba of Peterborough (6 Mar)
Eosterwine of Wearmouth (7 Mar)
Felix of Dunwich (8 Mar)
Bosa of York (9 Mar)
Custennin of Cornwall (9 Mar)
Óswine of Deira (11 Mar)
Custennin of Strathclyde (11 Mar)
Óengus ‘the Culdee’ of Tallaght (11 Mar)
Gregory ‘the Dialogist’, Pope of Rome (12 Mar)
Peulin ‘the Old’ of Léon (12 Mar)
Ælfhéah ‘the Bald’ of Winchester (12 Mar)
Benedict of Nursia (14 Mar)
Éadweard of England (18 Mar)
Cuðberht of Lindisfarne (20 Mar)
Hereberht of Derwentwater (20 Mar)
Liudgar of Billerbeck (26 Mar)
Hǽlcelde of Middleham (28 Mar)
Gwynllyw of Newport (29 Mar)
Gwladys of Newport (29 Mar)
Æþelburg of Lyminge (5 Apr)
Brychan Brycheiniog (6 Apr)
Ælfstán of Abingdon (6 Apr)
Brynach of Nevern (7 Apr)
Madryn of Boscastle (9 Apr)
Beocca of Chertsey (10 Apr)
Eðor of Chertsey (10 Apr)
Gúðlác of Crowland (11 Apr)
Padern of Vannes (15 Apr)
Donnán of Eigg (17 Apr)
Ælfhéah of Canterbury (19 Apr)
Cædwalla of Wessex (20 Apr)
Beuno of Clynnog (21 Apr)
Máel Ruba of Applecross (21 Apr)
Mellitus of Canterbury (24 Apr)
Endelyn of Trentinney (29 Apr)
Eorcenwald of London (30 Apr)
Berhte of Kent (1 May)
Asaph of Llanelwy (1 May)
Brieg of Saint-Brieuc (1 May)
Æþelræd of Bardney (4 May)
Ósþrýð of Bardney (4 May)
Éadberht of Lindisfarne (6 May)
John of Beverley (7 May)
Comgall of Bangor (10 May)
Æþelheard of Canterbury (12 May)
Damhnait of Geel (15 May)
Breandán ‘the Navigator’ of Clonfert (16 May)
Dúnstán of Canterbury (19 May)
Helena of Constantinople (21 May)
Elen ‘of the Hosts’ of Caernarfon (22 May)
Aldhelm of Sherborne (25 May)
Augustine of Canterbury (26 May)
Bede of Jarrow (27 May)
Melangell of Llangynog (27 May)
Walstan of Bawburgh (30 May)
Lul of Hersfeld (1 Jun)
Oda of Canterbury (2 Jun)
Cóemgen of Glendalough (3 Jun)
Éadfrið of Lindisfarne (4 Jun)
Pedrog of Padstow (4 Jun)
Boniface of Crediton (5 Jun)
Branwaladr of Milton Abbas (6 Jun)
Willibald of Eichstätt (7 Jun)
Willibrord of Frisia (7 Jun)
Colum Cille of Iona (9 Jun)
Iþamar of Rochester (10 Jun)
Eskil of Tuna (11 Jun)
Ternan of Culross (12 Jun)
Eleri of Gwytherin (13 Jun)
Éadburg of Winchester (15 Jun)
Botwulf of Icanho (17 Jun)
Nectan of Hartland (17 Jun)
Hildegrim of Châlons (19 Jun)
Mewan of Brittany (21 Jun)
Æþelþrýð of Ely (23 Jun)
Twrog of Maentwrog (26 Jun)
Austell of Brittany (28 Jun)
Euddogwy of Llandaff (2 Jul)
Cenydd of Gower (5 Jul)
Seaxburg of Ely (6 Jul)
Erfyl of Llanerfyl (6 Jul)
Modwen of Burton (6 Jul)
Palladius of Ireland and Scotland (6 Jul)
Hædde of Winchester (7 Jul)
Æþelburg of Faremoutiers (7 Jul)
Éadgár of England (8 Jul)
Sunngifu of Selja (8 Jul)
Iwerydd of Chittlehampton (8 Jul)
Mwynen of Morwenstow (8 Jul)
Wihtburg of Dereham (8 Jul)
Eoforhild of Everingham (9 Jul)
Mildþrýð of Thanet (13 Jul)
Willehad of Bremen (13 Jul)
Deusdedit of Canterbury (14 Jul)
Swíþhún of Winchester (15 Jul)
Helier of Jersey (16 Jul)
Cynehelm of Winchcombe (17 Jul)
Gwen ‘the Three-Breasted’ of Dorset (18 Jul)
Frideric of Utrecht (18 Jul)
Teneu of Glasgow (18 Jul)
Samson of Dol (28 Jul)
Óláfr of Norway (29 Jul)
Germain of Auxerre (31 Jul)
Neot of Cornwall (31 Jul)
Sidwell of Exeter (1 Aug)
Óswald of Northumbria (5 Aug)
Beorhthelm of Ilam (10 Aug)
Athracht of Lough Gara (11 Aug)
Jænberht of Canterbury (12 Aug)
Wihtberht of Fritzlar (13 Aug)
Tydfil of Penydarren (23 Aug)
Æbbe ‘the Elder’ of Coldingham (25 Aug)
Gregory of Utrecht (25 Aug)
Bregowine of Canterbury (26 Aug)
Ninian of Whithorn (26 Aug)
Degymen of Watchet (27 Aug)
Aidan of Lindisfarne (31 Aug)

2 comments:

  1. A very impressive list! You've done a lot of hard work. However, I wonder if all these saints really existed? In any case, why are Theodosius of Rome and Benedict of Nursia here when they never set foot in Britain? As for Harold of England, he seized the throne having sworn to uphold William's claim and had an immoral sexual life. Why should an adulterous perjurer be in a list of saints?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello John! Welcome to the blog, and thank you for the comment.

    First: Did all of these saints have a factual, historical existence? I tend to doubt it. I do make note of several saints whose existence seems to be legendary or whose cultus seems to be adapted from elsewhere - Saint Ia of Cornwall, for example. That having been said, we don't necessarily have to adapt Sabine Baring-Gould's hermeneutic to most of these hagiographical accounts. The physical artefacts and toponyms associated with these saints is enough to conclude that they were important to the religious lives of the people who lived there (and still do).

    Second: It's a fact that Theodosius actually did set foot in Britain - as a young man in the military. His importance to British Christianity, though, is in his dedication of the college in South Wales which produced a great plethora of Welsh saints. As for Saint Benedict, no, he is not British and never set foot in Britain. But a critical mass of English saints in particular were Benedictine, and the Benedictine Order was of critical importance to the development and cultivation of English Christianity. These are the reasons for their inclusion on this list. I will also note that Helena of Constantinople very likely never set foot in Britain either; her presence here is largely due to the later medieval legend that she was the daughter of a British chieftain.

    Third: In the spirit of critical historiography: it is disputed whether the so-called oath of allegiance Saint Harold of England took to William the Bastard ever actually occurred, or if it is merely Norman political propaganda, generated ad hoc to bolster a tendentious legal claim. I would recommend Ian Walker's exhaustively-researched text on Harold on this point.

    As for his sexual life, it's true that he kept a mistress to Edith Swanneck. It's unclear whether he continued his liaison with her after his legal marriage to the Mercian Edith. there are several saints even in this list whose comportment with women was not particularly stunning, but who repented either through prayer and fasting and almsgiving, or through a martyrific death.

    Harold has not yet been formally glorified, though there exists an informal cultus among Orthodox Christians which may have cause to be investigated at length.

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