Cædmon de Whitby
† v. 680 7th century Feast day: February 11
A gift received late and unearned, and given straight back as praise.
Who was Cædmon de Whitby?
An unlettered cowherd in the service of the monastery at Whitby, he used to leave the hall when the harp came round, because he could not sing. One night, asleep near the beasts, he heard himself asked to sing the beginning of created things; he woke with nine lines, the oldest English poem that has reached us. The abbess Hild brought him into the monastery, where he spent the rest of his life turning Scripture into verse for those who could not read.
In their own words
Now we must praise the guardian of the heavenly kingdom, the might of the Maker and the purpose of his mind, the work of the Father of glory.
He first shaped for the sons of men heaven as a roof, holy Maker; then he made middle-earth, guardian of mankind, eternal Lord, the ground for men, almighty Ruler.
I am in charity, my children, with all the servants of God.