h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This was posted to the Wessexdiscussions list and I thought it might be of interest:

Saturday, 4th June: Aldhelm west of Selwood: the making of the 8th century bishopric at Sherborne. Day Conference at the Powell Theatre, Abbey Road, Sherborne.

Introduction by Prof. Simon Keynes

Prof. Michael Lapidge - The Career of Aldhelm in the light of recent research

Katherine Barker - Why Sherborne? The borders of Aldhelm's Wessex

Prof. Barbara Yorke - Aldhelm & the Celtic Church

Dr Duncan Probert - New light on Aldhelm's letter to King Geraint of Dumnonia

Dr John Blair - The Local Church in Aldhelm's Wessex

Dr Graham Jones - Church dedications west of Selwood

Katherine Barker - Aldhelm and the setting of his 'Carmen Rhythmicum'

Small exhibition in the foyer.

Full programme & Tickets £7.00 (cheques 'West Dorset District Council' and SAE please) from St Aldhelm Conference Centre, Sherborne TIC, Digby Road, Sherborne, DT9 3NL. 01935 815341. Enquiries/further details: Katherine Barker 01935 816764 or [email protected]

I couldn't make it, being on the wrong side of the Atlantic at the time, but here (again from the Wessexdiscussions list) is David Robins' report of the conference:-

SHERBORNE CONFERENCE REPORT

Aldhelm west of Selwood: the making of the eighth century bishopric at Sherborne, Saturday, 4th June 2005


Professor Michael Lapidge: The career of Aldhelm in the light of recent research

First off, Professor Lapidge confessed that he had feared he would be addressing ten people in a draughty church hall but was delighted to have an audience of at least a hundred. His paper was the most dryly academic of the day but it had its moments of interest. He dismissed much of what is ‘known’ of Aldhelm’s early life as speculation by William of Malmesbury (‘Abbot Maeldubh’ of Malmesbury being reckoned as pure fabrication). But he was able to draw fresh insights from collating and comparing West Saxon, Northumbrian and continental sources. He argued, perhaps a little too forcefully to be wholly convincing, that Aldhelm was the son of King Centwine – that Saint Aldhelm was also Prince Aldhelm – and that Aldhelm had both renounced the throne in favour of his kinsman Caedwalla in 685 and accompanied him to Rome when the latter abdicated in 688. He then showed, by reconstructing the cultural resources available in that city at the time, how the visit could have influenced Aldhelm’s later writings. His final theory was that Malmesbury was in effect a family monastery. Centwine is known to have retired to a monastery and could have founded Malmesbury, on royal land, as his ‘retirement home’, appointing Aldhelm to run it.


Katherine Barker: Why Sherborne? The borders of Aldhelm's Wessex

Katherine Barker is well-known as a Dorset historian and very thorough she is, especially as organiser of the conference itself. Her first paper was short on known facts but she drew some interesting parallels. Aldhelm’s early life was contemporary with Sutton Hoo. Can we learn more about his Wessex by studying life and death in East Anglia? What about his poetry? There is a poem on St Malchus, a saint popular with the Celtic Church. There is a poem about a tall lighthouse. Could that have inspired the naming of St Aldhelm’s Head, with its mediaeval chapel, a landmark for mariners? Then there was Lanprobi, the Celtic religious site confiscated around 670 and later used to endow the new church at Sherborne. She thought she could make out in the street plan of Sherborne what could have been a D-shaped Celtic enclosure of that period.


Professor Barbara Yorke: Aldhelm and the Celtic Church

Babs identified the two key influences on Aldhelm as a church leader: the implementation of Archbishop Theodore’s new organisation policy and the need of the Wessex kings to break down religious barriers so as to ease political integration to the west. She also explored the possibility that Aldhelm had spent some time in Ireland, probably in the company of Aldfrid, who later became king of Northumbria. Aldfrid could be a baptismal name, influenced by the ‘Ald’ in Aldhelm. It seems Aldhelm was Aldfrid’s god-father but the two men could also have been related by blood, given the royal marriages going on between Wessex and Northumbria in the light of a common Mercian enemy. Knowledge picked up in Ireland could have been very useful to Aldhelm in his dealings with Dumnonia.


Dr Duncan Probert: New light on Aldhelm's letter to King Gerent of Dumnonia

What do we know about Dumnonia? Its rulers appear in Gildas and in Aldhelm’s letter and other documents of that period but little else is known.

Aldhelm’s poem known by its later name as Carmen Rhythmicum, describing a journey between Cornwall and Devon, is dated to between 669 and 709. The ability to make this journey suggests a period of peace, as does Aldhelm’s ability to write his conciliatory letter to Gerent. Bede refers to two British bishops assisting at Chad’s consecration at Winchester in 665.

Aldhelm refers to Gerent as ruler of ‘the western kingdom’, not Dumnonia, suggesting that this was a contested territory whose extent was not unambiguously defined. What was the dispute all about – was it really religion, or were religious differences being clung to as the badge of cultural independence? Was Aldhelm’s agenda purely ecclesiastical, or was it part of a drive to extend the political influence of Wessex? The Anglo-Roman Church and the Englisc kingdoms had common interests in this regard.

The letter can be dated to no later than 695-697. It can be seen as a softening-up of Dumnonia for an inevitable takeover, a case of ‘you know where it’s heading – so do the pragmatic thing’. Aldhelm died in 709. The great battle between Gerent and Ine followed in 710. The implication is that, without Aldhelm’s diplomatic skills, dialogue broke down and war ensued.


Dr John Blair: The Local Church in Aldhelm's Wessex

A nice slide-show of A-S artefacts set the scene, including Titchfield church in Hampshire (I’d not heard of that one). Also included were photos of some continental church ornaments, for comparison with the lost English examples known only from descriptions. Interesting comparisons followed between English and continental churches, e.g. Winchester Old Minster and Milan Cathedral, but also the observation that some large churches of the A-S period have the peculiarly English feature of one church built behind or in front of another (Glastonbury, Jarrow, Sherborne, Winchester).

Other slides showed data on isolated coin finds that enabled trade routes to be reconstructed, also an amazing graph showing the dates of these coins with a huge peak between 670 and 730, not repeated until well after the Norman Conquest. This period, when Aldhelm was at the height of his powers, emerged as a golden age for early Wessex. The evidence suggests that a period of plagues gave way to a period of prosperity unmatched for centuries to come, much as the Black Death was in due course to re-invigorate the economy, society and thought of the 15th century.


Jim had to leave at this point, so at his request my notes on the remaining speakers are fuller.


Dr Graham Jones: Church dedications west of Selwood

www.le.ac.uk/elh/grj1/tasc.html

Jones’ nine rules:

1. Dedications are resilient. The vast majority are original. Even where some have been changed the changes cannot be numerous enough to distort the pattern, so conclusions about the pattern are statistically secure.

2. Distributions are non-random – so they have something to tell us.

3. Patterns of change are themselves non-random.

4. Superior cults are found at superior places (the important shrines will correlate with the important centres). This hold true from the 4th century to the 12th.

5. Cults reflect the hierarchy of settlement change.

6. The cult profile is made up of main altars, side altars and holy wells. The higher the proportion of parochial dedications, the older the cult.

7. Dedications tell us about the relationship of Church organisation to the locality. Wales has 500 different dedications, 300 of them unique to Wales. Dedications to Nicholas and Mary represent trends in particular places at particular times.

8. Saints are chosen because of what their attributes mean for the locality, e.g. how their festivals relate to the agricultural calendar and the type of farming done in the area.

9. Need to move from the macro to the micro. It’s like cosmology, picking out patterns in vast amounts of data. It’s also a palimpsest, the current pattern preserving fragments of older ones. It’s a chaotic picture but one capable of resolution and de-layering. One area on the map can assist another – e.g. studies of Catalonia and Italy have provided information on trends from the 9th to 13th centuries that has been lost in England.
Next, the attributes of particular saints.

Mary – Few dedications in Cornwall, Wales or the north. Very much SW midlands, East Anglia and mid-Wessex. These are the areas with the thicker soils. There is therefore a match with the feasts of the Assumption (or ‘Mary in Harvest’) in August and Mary’s Nativity (‘Little Lady Day’) in September, when stacking of sheaves was completed.

Andrew – A popular saint for the Saxons because he was the patron of St Gregory. Again, SW and East Anglia. Big concentrations in Somerset may be influenced by the cathedral dedication at Wells.

Peter & Paul – The Roman saints, who took the place of Romulus and Remus as protectors of the city. Found in what were pre-Conquest royal estate centres and markets. This emphasises the parallel interests of the kings and their Church.

John the Baptist – Has a westerly aspect, north Worcs to Devon corridor, e.g. Wellington, Axminster. Also the woodland zones, where a saint of the wilderness might appeal. Lots of major lay and ecclesiastical estates have this dedication – Cirencester, Colerne, Frome. Churches next to rivers – Shepton Mallet. The Midsummer saint – Midsomer Norton. Custom of St John’s bonfires / bone fires. Saint of healthcare for cattle.

Mary Magdalene – Highest concentrations in Somerset (especially), also Devon and Dorset. Examples include Taunton, Ditcheat and Chewton Mendip, also south and west Somerset generally.

Mary & John – Possibly associated with Celtic sites.

Michael/Bridget – These two appear to be connected. Michael is widely distributed, with concentrations in the Axminster/Honiton area and in Wiltshire. Possible associations with transhumance (Michael as captain of the heavenly hosts). Michaelmas relates to the agricultural calendar. Bridget is likewise a livestock saint, the protector of cattle – in Somerset Chelvey and Brean, 2 in Devon, 1 in Dorset.

Helen – A Mercian cult, not much evidenced in Wessex.

Bartholomew – Associated with nemetons, Celtic continuation sites – Crewkerne.

Wite – Also known as Candida. Late Roman survival, derived from the cult of St Lucy/Lucia (light), related to the Celtic cult of Gwyn. Found in borderlands, sheeplands. Likewise St Rayne. Indicative of pre-Christian dedications, fairs, markets, ritual links.

Martin of Tours – Dorset and Somerset concentrations. The destroyer of non-Christian temples.

Martin and Bartholomew dedications are inter-twined along the Wessex/Dumnonia frontier. Martin is the destroyer of pagan sites (see Aldhelm on Sulpicius), whereas Bartholomew is the saint favouring absorption/adaptation (the policy advised to Augustine by Gregory).

In discussion, Dr Jones referred to a church of SS Aldhelm & Eadburga at Broadway in the Blackdown Hills and a St Aldhelm’s Ash at Marshfield (Glos.).

One of the odder dedications is to St Hippolyte at Ryme Intrinseca. This was possibly based on a relic brought back from abroad.


Katherine Barker: Aldhelm and the setting of his Carmen Rhythmicum

Katherine Barker’s second paper identified the route of Aldhelm’s journey back from Cornwall that is hinted at in the Carmen Rhythmicum. The poem describes taking shelter from a storm in a church on the south Devon coast on 29th June but does not specify the year. Matching the descriptions to 8th century charter bounds she was able to suggest that the journey was undertaken by sea, starting at Maker (meaning ‘ruins’), in SE Cornwall and ending (usque direm Domnoniam – to the limits of Devon) on the outskirts of Lyme Regis. Glastonbury and Sherborne had adjoining estates at both these locations and the Helmfryth referred to in the poem is possibly Helmgisl, Abbot of Glastonbury. A bone of St Petroc is recorded among the relics of Lyme church, suggesting that the sea route from Cornwall to Dorset was a common means of travel between the two. From Lyme, travellers could move inland to join the Roman road network, notably the Fosse Way.


DR/14.06.05

Nick,

Thanks for the precis.

On a brief read through the notes the subjects seem somewhat dry and academic, and most do not appear to have a direct relevance to Devon.

However a couple of comments on the specific subjects raised

Lapidge - Adhelm

It seems quite common for this era for royalty and religion to mix (for example King Geraint of Dumnonia became Saint Geraint).

Barker's Borders of Wessex

Sadly she doesn't seem to describe the borders of Wessex at all.

Yorke - Adhelm

The Irish exposure may well have helped Adhelm as the Ogham standing stones of Devon and Cornwall testify to an Irish influence.

Jones - Church dedications

It is notable that Jones largely avoids the Celtic saints. Why?
It is noted that Martin and Bartholomew inetrtwine along the Wessex/Dumnonian border - but the link sadly didn't shed much light on this.

Barker - Carmen Rhythmicum

It was interesting to note that the description of the journey was "usque direm Domnoniam – to the limits of Devon" and ended at Lyme Regis. It suggests that Devon was equated with the nation/kingdom of Dumnonia at this time - and it had roughly the same boundary as today - at least on the south coast.

I thought there was a fair amount about Dumnonia in there, which is why I posted it. As I say, I wasn't there, so I can't answer your questions, I am just forwarding what was sent to me. I agree about the boundaries of Wessex - judging by the comment about a Celtic enclosure in Sherborne, I suspect the title may have referred to internal boundaries, such as parish and field boundaries etc.

Nick,

There are a few mentions of Dumnonia (6 in all, plus one more for Domnonium) and Devon (again 6).

If my earlier message suggested a degree of disappointment it was due to the fact that I had expected more 'news' given some of the conference topic titles. Nevertheless thanks for posting the summary.

I am still not sure about Barkers 'Why Sherborne - The Borders of Wessex' presentation. Perhaps the title simply meant that she considered Sherborne to be at or close to the borders of Wessex at the time?? I have seen early maps which shows Dumnonia's boundaries to be close to this point [ eg http://www.kessler-web.co.uk/HistoryFiles.htm]

The presentation itself does seem to be a ramble through the background and influences of Adhelm. A reasonable topic, but not what the title suggests.

Perhaps your WS colleagues who attended would know whether this is so - or whether they noted the discrepancy between the topic title and the content as noted??

As to Probert's comment concerning 'the western kingdom' rather than Dumnonia being named this does seem rather a long bow to draw on what might be a turn of phrase - or perhaps Gerent controlled more than just Dumnonia - for example the area around mid Somerset which I believe did have something of a seperate identity for a while (was it called Glastenning?).

The Celtic church dedications of Exmoor seem to have been left out of this discussion; there are Celtic dedications at Parracombe, Porlock, Culbone and Brendon.

Here are some of the Exmoor dedications;

St Beuno (Culbone), St. Petrock, (Timberscombe), St. Petrock (Parracombe), St. Dubricius (Porlock).

From what I have read so far, the British territory included the Exmoor portion of Somerset, where the Celtic church dedications have survived, and further south the border was set at the river Parrett, about 15 miles west of Sherborne.

Given Sherborne’s closeness to Dumnonian territory and its new abbey, established by Aldhelm himself;

http://www.sherborneabbey.com/

it would have made a good base from which to exert pressure on Dumnonia, which seems to have been Aldhelm’s task in his dealings with Geraint.

“Furthermore, given that Sherborne was established, in all likelihood, near the then border with Dumnonia, Aldhelm as bishop may have had a role in the maintenance of relations between the West Saxons and Dumnonians. It is possible that the Sherborne grant is representative of some accord, mediated by Aldhelm, between Dumnonia and Wessex: an attempt perhaps by Geraint to slow the steady westward advance of the West Saxons. Finberg (1964a: 88)”

http://www.mun.ca/mst/heroicage/issues/4/Grimmer.html

Ozzie Exile,

As far as I know Glastenning was in Somerset. There is a map on the net of early British kingdoms, and it has Glastenning's borders as coinciding exactly with the borders of Somerset.

http://www.kessler-web.co.uk/History/FeaturesBritain/BritishMap.htm

One could speculate that Glastonbury was its capital (perhaps translated from something like Din Glasten).