Ceolfrid, or Ceolfirth

Ceolfrid, Or Ceolfirth, a Saxon monk and writer, was born about the year 642, in the kingdom of Northumberland. In 674 he is mentioned by Bede as aiding Benedict Biscop in building the monastery of St. Peter at Wearmouth; and when Benedict founded the monastery of St. Paul at Jarrow, he made Ceolfrid the abbot. Benedict, on his death-bed, designated Ceolfrid abbot of both the monasteries at Wearmouth and at Jarrow. Bede describes him as "a man of great perseverance, of acute intellect, bold in action, experienced in judgment, and zealous in religion." He died on his way to Rome, when he had nearly reached Lan.res, in France, on the 25th of September, 716. His remains were carried to Wearmouth, but were subsequently removed to Glastonbury. His letter concerning Easter, addressed to Neaitan, king of the Picts, and preserved by Bede, is distinguished by strength of reasoning and clearness of style. Bale attributes to him some homilies, epistles, and a tract, De sua Peregrinatione. — Wright, Biog. Brit. Lit. 1:234 sq.; Bede, Hist. Ecclesiastes bk. 5, ch. 21; Hook, Ecclesiastes Biography, 3:532.