Daily Saint

Lastingham was founded by Cedd in his native Northumbria after King Æthelwald of Deira offered him land for a monastery. Bede describes the location as a remote and difficult place, associated with wild animals and lawless people. He responded by transforming it into a place dedicated to God. Before establishing the monastery, he spent a period in prayer and fasting, seeking to consecrate the site spiritually before beginning its construction. The monastery at Lastingham became an important center of Christian life. Cedd served as its abbot while continuing his responsibilities as bishop of the East Saxons. St. Cedd died and was buried at Lastingham in 664. His brother Chad succeeded him as abbot.

The Synod of Whitby, held in 664, addressed differences between the Celtic and the Roman Church traditions practiced in parts of England, particularly questions concerning the date for celebrating Easter. Because Cedd had been formed within the Irish or Celtic missionary tradition at Lindisfarne, he served as an interpreter at the synod because he understood both sides of the discussion. When the synod favored the Roman calculation of Easter, Cedd accepted the decision. Although he came from the Celtic Christian tradition, his response showed his willingness to accept a decision intended to bring greater unity to the Church. Shortly after the synod, St. Cedd returned to Lastingham, where he fell sick with the plague and died. His participation in Whitby provides an interesting insight into the challenges faced by the early English Church as it developed greater unity with the wider Catholic Church.