Cædmon
Ancient English poet · Writers · Died 680
Cædmon is the earliest English poet whose name is known. A Northumbrian cowherd who cared for the animals at the double monastery of Streonæshalch during the abbacy of Hilda, he was originally ignorant of "the art of song" but learned to compose one night in the course of a dream, according to the 8th-century...
Cædmon is read about 103 times a day, in 33 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 108 days, one point a day.
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Photos 4
Caedmon and Bede depicted in stained glass at St Andrew, Stoke Newington.
Ruins of Whitby Abbey in North Yorkshire, England - founded in 657 by Hilda, the original abbey fell to a Viking attack in 867 and was abandoned. It was re-established in 1078 and flourished until 1540 when it was destroyed by Henry VIII.
One of two candidates for the earliest surviving copy of Cædmon's Hymn is found in "The Moore Bede" (ca. 737) which is held by the Cambridge University Library (Kk. 5. 16, often referred to as M). The other candidate is the Saint Petersburg Bede Saint Petersburg, National Library of Russia, lat. Q. v. I. 18 (P)In their own words 2
, I am in charity, my children, with all the servants of God.
Light was first / Through the Lord's word / Named day: / Beauteous, bright creation!
About this person
A Northumbrian cowherd who cared for the animals at the double monastery of Streonæshalch during the abbacy of Hilda, he was originally ignorant of "the art of song" but learned to compose one night in the course of a dream, according to the 8th-century Christian historian and saint Bede. He later became a zealous monk and an accomplished and inspirational Christian poet. He is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholicism and Anglicanism, with a feast day on 11 February.