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St Peter's on the Wall, Bradwell on Sea |
He returned to Lindisfarne and was sent to
evangelise the people of Essex, who were sorely in need of some spiritual
guidance. He sailed by coracle and arrived at Bradwell, where he built a simple
chapeL out of the remains of the Roman wall. He baptised many of the locals and
built churches, founded monasteries at Bradwell-on-Sea and East Tilbury. After
being ordained Bishop of Essex Cedd re-instated St. Paul's in London as the
main seat of his diocese. He ordained priests and deacons to assist him in his
work and gathered together a large flock of servants of Christ in his two
monastic foundations.
Cedd also built a Royal monastery and mausoleum
at Lastingham, Yorkshire. During one visit there he fell ill with the plague
and he and his brother, Cynebil, fell sick and died.
Cedd was buried in the open air and his
funeral was attended by thirty monks from Bradwell who, subsequently also
contracted the plague and died. Eventually, a church was built at Lastingham and
Cedd's body was interred there. Later, Cedd's bones were moved to the Lichfield
Cathedral (founded by his brother, Chad).