Ecclesiastical History of England

What It's About

Completed around 731, this is the foundational history of early England. Bede begins with the geography and Roman occupation of Britain, then follows the arrival of Christianity and the settlement of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes. The core of the work is the mission of Augustine of Canterbury, sent from Rome in 597, and the gradual conversion of the English kingdoms, one royal court after another. Along the way Bede describes bishops, abbots and abbesses, saints' lives, reported miracles, and the political fortunes of kings such as Edwin and Oswald of Northumbria. Much of what we know of England between the end of Roman rule and the eighth century comes from this book.

Key Concepts

Central themes include the conversion of the English and the unity of the English people under one Church. Bede gives considerable attention to the conflict between Roman and Irish (Celtic) Christian customs, especially the dating of Easter, which was settled at the Synod of Whitby in 664. He also treats monasticism as a driving force of learning and faith, and presents history as the working-out of God's providence. Modern readers should note his strong Roman and Northumbrian outlook, his unflattering portrayal of the native British clergy, and his readiness to record miracles as fact. Even so, his careful use of sources and his habit of naming them set a high standard for medieval historical writing.

About the Author

Bede (c. 672/673–735) was an Anglo-Saxon monk who spent nearly his whole life at the twin monasteries of Wearmouth and Jarrow in Northumbria. A scholar, teacher and biblical commentator, he is often called the "Father of English History." He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1899.

About This Edition

This is a 1907 translation by A.M. Sellar.