Saint Ithamar
Saint Ithamar of Rochester (born early 7th century in England; died c. 656 AD in Rochester, Kent, England) was the first Englishman to be consecrated as a bishop in the Anglo-Saxon Church. Appointed Bishop of Rochester by Saint Honorius of Canterbury in 644 AD, he represents a significant milestone in the Christianization of England — the moment when the Anglo-Saxon Church became capable of ordaining its own bishops rather than relying entirely on bishops from the Continent. His feast day is June 10.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Ithamar
| Saint Ithamar | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | June 10 |
| Profession | Bishop; first English-born bishop in the Anglo-Saxon Church |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church (Anglo-Saxon period); first English-born bishop; Bishop of Rochester 644–c. 656 AD |
| Patronage | Rochester; Kent; the English Church; English-born bishops; the Diocese of Rochester |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments and mitre; English Anglo-Saxon setting; Rochester Cathedral (his see) |
| Birthplace | Kent, England (probably) |
| Death Place | Rochester, Kent, England |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died as Bishop of Rochester c. 656 AD |
| Primary Shrine | Rochester Cathedral (Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary), Rochester, Kent — his relics were venerated here; one of the oldest cathedral foundations in England; his feast is observed here |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast June 10; observed in the Diocese of Rochester, Church of England (local calendar), and some Catholic communities in England |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; locally observed in England |
Biography
Ithamar was an Anglo-Saxon — the first Englishman to be consecrated a bishop in the history of the English Church. Bede, in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People (Book III, Chapter 14), records his appointment: in 644 AD, after the death of the Roman bishop Paulinus (who had fled to Rochester after the pagan reaction in Northumbria), Saint Honorius of Canterbury consecrated Ithamar as Bishop of Rochester.
Bede notes that Ithamar was a man of learning and holiness equal to his continental predecessors — an implicit defense of the capacity of the English Church to produce its own saints and leaders. His consecration was a decisive moment: it showed that the English Church no longer needed to import its entire leadership from Rome or Gaul.
His most historically significant act came at the end of his life: around 655 AD, he consecrated Saint Deusdedit as Archbishop of Canterbury — the first Englishman ever to hold that office. Thus Ithamar, the first English bishop, consecrated the first English archbishop.
He died around 656 and was buried at Rochester Cathedral, where his relics were venerated in the medieval period.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Kent, England (probably)
Death location: Rochester, Kent, England
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Parishes
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Rochester Cathedral, Rochester, Kent, England — his relics; one of the oldest cathedral foundations in England; active place of worship since the 7th century.
Feast day
June 10
Veneration
Saint Ithamar is venerated with a feast day on June 10, observed in Rochester and in the English Catholic and Anglican traditions. He is the first English-born bishop in the history of English Christianity.
Prayers
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