12 Facts About Benedict Biscop

Benedict Biscop made a second journey to Rome twelve years later.

On his return journey to England Benedict Biscop stopped at Lerins, a monastic island off the Mediterranean coast of Provence, which had by then adopted the Rule of St Benedict Biscop.

Benedict Biscop went to the Continent to bring back masons who could build a monastery in the Pre-Romanesque style.

Benedict Biscop made his fifth and final trip to Rome in 679 to bring back books for a library, saintly relics, stonemasons, glaziers, and a grant from Pope Agatho granting his monastery certain privileges.

Benedict Biscop made five overseas voyages in all to stock the library.

In 682 Benedict Biscop appointed Eosterwine as his coadjutor and the King was so delighted at the success of St Peter's, he gave him land in Jarrow and urged him to build a second monastery.

Benedict Biscop appointed Ceolfrid as the superior, who left Wearmouth with 20 monks to start the foundation in Jarrow.

Bede, one of Benedict Biscop's pupils, tells us that he brought builders and glass-workers from Francia to erect the buildings in stone.

Benedict Biscop drew up a rule for his community, based on that of Benedict and the customs of seventeen monasteries he had visited.

Benedict Biscop engaged Abbot John, Arch-cantor of St Peter's in Rome, to teach Roman chant at these monasteries.

Benedict Biscop's idea was to build a model monastery for England, sharing his knowledge of the experience of the Church in Europe.

Benedict Biscop suffered his affliction with great patience and faith.