Tom Holland named Durham Cathedral’s Bede Librarian for cultural talks

Durham Cathedral has announced the appointment of historian Tom Holland as its new Bede Librarian, a position honoring the esteemed 8th-century monk, the Venerable Bede. Bede is a key figure in English history, known for his influential work, “The Ecclesiastical History of the English People,” which chronicles the transformation of Roman Britain into a Christian nation.

Bede’s legacy is intimately tied to Durham Cathedral, where he is interred. His epitaph, “Here are buried the bones of the Venerable Bede,” captures the reverence with which he is regarded. Holland, who has extensively explored Christianity’s role in shaping British history, is set to engage in a public dialogue with the Dean of Durham, Philip Plyming, focusing on Bede and other Saxon saints.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the role, Holland remarked, “Bede is the father of English history – so what greater honour could there possibly for an English historian than to be appointed the Bede Librarian in the cathedral where he lies buried.”

Historically, monks such as Bede were instrumental in preserving and disseminating cultural and literary heritage. Holland’s upcoming discussion is anticipated to delve into the cultural contributions of figures like Bede and explore lessons modern Britain might draw from them.

Dean Plyming shared his excitement about Holland’s involvement, stating, “I am thrilled that Tom Holland has accepted the role of Bede Librarian at Durham Cathedral and will be contributing to our life and mission in the years to come. Tom is not only an outstanding historian and communicator but also deeply committed to the North-East, our saints and our stories.”

Plyming also emphasized the importance of Holland’s work in promoting the cathedral’s archives and collections: “It will be wonderful to have him speaking about such a vital topic as the renewal of our culture and what we can – and must – learn from the past. I am also delighted that he will be helping Durham Cathedral share our wonderful archives and collections with an even wider audience.”