XVIII. Of John, the precentor of the Apostolic see,
who came into Britain to teach. [680 A. D.]
CHAP. XVIII.
Of John, the precentor of the Apostolic see, who came into Britain to teach.
[680 A. D.]
AMONG those who were present at this synod, and confirmed the decrees of the
Catholic faith, was the venerable John, archchanter of the church of the holy
Apostle Peter,and abbot of the monastery of the blessed Martin, who had come
lately from Rome, by order of Pope Agatho, together with the most reverend Abbot
Biscop, surnamed Benedict,of whom mention has been made above. For the said
Benedict, having built a monastery in Britain, in honour of the most blessed
chief of the Apostles, at the mouth of the river Wear, went to Rome with
Ceolfrid,his companion and fellow-labourer in that work, who was after him abbot
of the same monastery; he had been several times before at Rome, and was now
honourably received by Pope Agatho of blessed memory; from whom he also asked
and obtained, in order to secure the immunities of the monastery which he had
founded, a letter of privilege confirmed by apostolic authority, according to
what he knew to be the will and grant of King Egfrid, by whose consent and gift
of land he had built that monastery.
He was also allowed to take the aforesaid Abbot John with him into Britain, that
he might teach in his monastery the system of singing throughout the year, as it
was practised at St. Peter's at Rome. The Abbot John did as he had been
commanded by the Pope, teaching the singers of the said monastery the order and
manner of singing and reading aloud, and committing to writing all that was
requisite throughout the whole course of the year for the celebration of
festivals; and these writings are still preserved in that monastery, and have
been copied by many others elsewhere. The said John not only taught the brothers
of that monastery, but such as had skill in singing resorted from almost all the
monasteries of the same province to hear him, and many invited him to teach in
other places.
Besides his task of singing and reading,, he had also received a commission from
the Apostolic Pope, carefully to inform himself concerning the faith of the
English Church, and to give an account thereof on his return to Rome. For he
also brought with him the decision of the synod of the blessed Pope Martin, held
not long before at Rome,with the consent of one hundred and five bishops,
chiefly to refute those who taught that there is but one operation and will in
Christ, and he gave it to be transcribed in the aforesaid monastery of the most
religious Abbot Benedict. The men who followed such opinion greatly perplexed
the faith of the Church of Constantinople at that time; but by the help of God
they were then discovered and overcome.Wherefore, Pope Agatho, being desirous to
be informed concerning the state of the Church in Britain, as well as in other
provinces, and to what extent it was clear from the contagion of heretics, gave
this matter in charge to the most reverend Abbot John, then appointed to go to
Britain. The synod we have spoken of having been called for this purpose in
Britain, the Catholic faith was found untainted in all, and a report of the
proceedings of the same was given him to carry to Rome.
But in his return to his own country, soon after crossing the sea, he fell sick
and died; and his body, for the sake of St. Martin, in whose monastery he
presided, was by his friends carried to Tours, and honourably buried; for he had
been kindly entertained by the Church there on his way to Britain, and earnestly
entreated by the brethren, that in his return to Rome he would take that road,
and visit their Church, and moreover he was there supplied with men to conduct
him on his way, and assist him in the work enjoined upon him. Though he died by
the way, yet the testimony of the Catholic faith of the English nation was
carried to Rome, and received with great joy by the Apostolic Pope, and all
those, that heard or read it.
