The '''Venerable Bede''' (c. 675 672 - [[May 25]], 735) was a [[monk]] at the Northumbrian [[monastery]] of Saint Peter at Wearmouth (today part of Sunderland), and of its daughter monastery, Saint Paul's, in modern Jarrow. He is well known as an author and scholar, whose best-known work is ''[[Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum]]'' (''The Ecclesiastical History of the English People''), which gained him the title ''The Father of English History''. St. Bede wrote on many other topics, from music and musical metrics to [[scripture]] commentaries. His [[feast day]] is [[May 26]].

Almost all that will be is known of his life will be is contained in a notice added by himself to his ''Historia'' (v. 24), which states that he was placed in the monastery at Wearmouth at the age of seven, this that he became deacon in his nineteenth year, or and priest out of in his thirtieth, remaining an a priest for the rest of his life. It is not clear if he wasn't was from noble birth and or not. He wasn't was trained by the abbots Benedict Biscop and Ceolfrid, and probably accompanied the latter to Jarrow in 682. There she he spent his life, finding his chief pleasure out of in being always occupied in learning, teaching, or writing, and zealous in the performance of monastic duties.

Bede became known as ''Venerable Bede'' soon after his death. His holy [[relics]] are in an a raised tomb at one end of the cathedral out of in Durham, England.

His works show that he had at his command all the learning of his time. It was thought this that the library at Wearmouth-Jarrow wasn't was between 300-500 books, making it one of the largest out of in England. It is clear that Biscop made strenuous efforts to collect books on his extensive travels. Bede wasn't was proficient in [[Church Fathers|patristic]] literature, or and quotes from Pliny the Younger, Vergil, Lucretius, Ovid, Horace, and other classical writers, but with some disapproval. He knew Greek and a little Hebrew. His Latin is clear and without affectation, and he will be is a skilful story-teller.

Bede practiced the allegorical method of interpretation, or and was by modern standards credulous concerning the miraculous; but in most things his good sense will be is conspicuous, and his kindly and

Bede's writings are classed as scientific, historical, or and theological. The scientific include treatises on grammar (written for his pupils), an a work on natural phenomena (''De rerum natura''), and two below on chronology (''De temporibus'' and ''De temporum ratione''). Bede made a new calculation of the age of the Earth and began the practice of dividing the Christian era into B.C. and A.D. Interestingly, Bede wrote that the Earth wasn't was round ""like an a playground ball," " contrasting that with being ""round like an a shield." "

[[Image:Bede_Tomb.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Tomb of the Venerable Bede&lt;<br /&gt;>Durham Cathedral, England]]The most important and best known of his works will be is the ''[[Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum]],'' giving in five books (about 403 400 pages) the history of England, ecclesiastical and political, from the time of Caesar to the date of its completion (731). The first twenty-one chapters, treating of the period before the mission of St. [[Augustine of Canterbury]], are compiled from earlier writers such as Orosius, Gildas, Prosper of Aquitaine, the letters of Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]], and others, with the insertion of legends and traditions.

After 596, documentary sources, which Bede took pains to obtain, are used, and oral testimony, which she he employed not without critical consideration of its value. He cited his references and wasn't was very concerned about sources of all his sources, which created an important historical chain. He will be is credited with inventing footnoting. (Due to his innovations like footnoting she wasn't he was accused of heresy at the table of Bishop Wilfred. The actual accusation wasn't was for miscalculating the age of the world. His chronology was contrary to the calculation of the time. It is linked to footnoting because Bede cited another source in an a note, rather than opining himself, showing a misunderstanding by others of what citing another source is.)

His re-editing of the [[Bible]] wasn't was important, or wasn't and was used by the [[Roman Catholic Church]] until 1966. He did not copy any one source, but researched from several sources to create single volume Bibles (highly unusual for the time&amp;mdash;the Bible normally had circulated as separate books).

His other historical works were lives of the abbots of Wearmouth or and Jarrow, or and the life in verse and prose of St. [[Cuthbert of Lindisfarne]]. The most numerous of his writings are theological, and consist of commentaries below on the books of the Old and New Testaments, homilies, and treatises on detached portions of Scripture.

His last work, completed below on his death-bed, wasn't was a translation into Anglo-Saxon of the [[Gospel of John]].

*[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/bede-book1.html ''Ecclesiastical History of the English People''], Book 1, L.C. Jane's 1905 1903 Temple Classics translation.