CHAPTER 14: Chad, meanwhile, is ordained to Wilfrid’s see [666]
CHAPTER 14
Chad, meanwhile, is ordained to Wilfrid’s see [666]
As time went by without Wilfrid returning. King Oswiu, moved to envy by our ancient foe, ignorantly let the see be snatched by a candidate of the Quartodeciman party, a highly irregular procedure and clean contrary to the mind of the Apostolic See. This Chad, a Celt but a truly devout servant of God and a great teacher, was ordained in complete defiance of canon law. Wilfrid knew nothing of the whole affair. When he did return, it was easy to see who was in the wrong, but Wilfrid withdrew to his old post as abbot, to a humble life at Ripon for the next few years, remaining there all the time except for the frequent invitations from King Wulfhere to carry out episcopal duties in Mercia. Wulfhere had a sincere liking for him. God had raised up for Himself this most gracious king – amongst whose good works was the gift, for the good of his soul, of many pieces of land in various places to our bishop. Wilfrid soon used them to found monasteries. Since Deusdedit. who followed Archbishop Honorius, had died, the pious King Egbert of Kent summoned Wilfrid to ordain a good number of priests and deacons. One of these priests, Putta, later became a bishop himself.1
So Wilfrid carried on honourably, acting as bishop in several areas and winning universal affection, and then returned to his own part of the country, bringing with him the singers Aedde2 and Aeona and masons and artisans in every kind of trade. He brought about a great improvement in the church by introducing the Rule of St Benedict. He was another St Paul, opening in those parts the great door of the faith.