James the Deacon
Pre-Congregation | |
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Feast | 17 August or 11 October |
James the Deacon
Life
James was presumably an
Edwin died in battle at Hatfield fighting against Penda of Mercia and Caedwalla in 633.[6] Edwin had been the main supporter of Paulinus' mission, and with his death, a pagan backlash set in. Paulinus fled to Kent, along with Æthelburg and Edwin and Æthelburg's daughter Eanflæd. James, however, remained behind in Northumbria and continued missionary efforts.[6] James' efforts were centred in Lincoln, at a church that Paulinus had built there, the remains of which may lie under the church of St. Paul-in-the-Bail.[7] This was in the dependent kingdom of Lindsey, where Paulinus had preached before Edwin's death,[8] and it was reconquered by one of Edwin's successors, Oswald of Northumbria in the 640s.[9]
According to Bede's account of events, James was present at the Synod of Whitby.[3][b] Bede states that after the synod, and the return of Roman customs, James, as a trained singing master in the Roman and Kentish style, taught many people plainsong or Gregorian chant in the Roman manner.[3]
James' date of death is unknown, but Bede implies that he was still alive during Bede's lifetime, meaning he died after Bede's birth, around 671 or 672. This would mean he was at least 70 years old at his death.[4] It has been suggested that James was Bede's informant for the life of Edwin, the works of Paulinus, and perhaps the Synod of Whitby.[13] The historian Frank Stenton calls James "the one heroic figure in the Roman mission".[14] This reflects the fact that many of the Gregorian missionaries had a habit of fleeing when things went wrong.[15]
After his death, James was venerated as a saint. His feast day is 17 August (Catholic General Roman Calendar)[1] or 11 October (Church of England).[16]
See also
Notes
- Latin: Iacomus Diaconus
- Eddius Stephanus' Life of Wilfred does not mention James in his account of the synod.[12]
Citations
- ^ a b "St James the Deacon". Patron Saints Index. Archived from the original on 9 February 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
- ^ "Parish Church of St James the Deacon". Parish Church of St James the Deacon. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
- ^ a b c d Lapidge "James the Deacon" Blackwell Encyclopedia of Anglo-Saxon England
- ^ a b Blair World of Bede p. 98
- ^ Mayr-Harting Coming of Christianity pp. 66–67
- ^ a b Mayr-Harting Coming of Christianity p. 68
- ^ Brooks "From British to English Christianity" Conversion and Colonization p. 22
- ^ Kirby Earliest English Kings p. 65
- ^ Kirby Earliest English Kings p. 74
- ^ Bede History of the English Church p. 139
- ^ Kirby Earliest English Kings p. 87
- ^ Eddius Stephanus Life of Wilfrid pp. 116–118
- ^ Higham Kingdom of Northumbria p. 107
- ^ Stenton Anglo-Saxon England p. 116
- ^ Mayr-Harting Coming of Christianity p. 75
- ^ "St James the Deacon: His Life & Legacy". St. James the Deacon Parish Church. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
References
- ISBN 0-14-044042-9.
- ISBN 0-521-39819-3.
- ISBN 0-86698-363-5.
- ISBN 978-0-14-044727-9.
- Higham, N. J. (1993). The Kingdom of Northumbria: AD 350–1100. Gloucester, UK: A. Sutton. ISBN 0-86299-730-5.
- Kirby, D. P. (2000). The Earliest English Kings. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-24211-8.
- ISBN 978-0-631-22492-1.
- ISBN 0-271-00769-9.
- ISBN 978-0-19-280139-5.