Cedd

cedda) (d.664. Bishop of the East Saxons. A Northumbrian, he was with his brother Chad one of the twelve pupils of Aidan* on Lindisfarne. In 653 he was sent by King Oswy of Northumbria to evangelize Mercia by permission of the heathen King Penda. Next year he was sent to Essex and consecrated bishop of the East Saxons. He built a number of churches and founded two monasteries. On a return visit to Northumbria he founded the abbey at Lastingham, Yorkshire, and became its first abbot. He was present as one of the Celtic representatives at the Synod of Whitby in 663/4 and accepted the verdict in favor of Roman customs.