James the Deacon facts for kids

James the Deacon was a helper in the church, called a deacon. He traveled with Paulinus of York on an important trip to Northumbria. James was part of the Gregorian mission. This group came to England to teach Christianity to the Anglo-Saxons, who followed their own traditional beliefs. We don't know exactly when James arrived in England. After Paulinus left Northumbria, James chose to stay. He continued his work near Lincoln. The old writer Bede says James died sometime after the year 671.

Who Was James the Deacon?

James was probably from Italy, just like the other people in the Gregorian mission. We don't know the exact year he was born. We also don't know when he first arrived in Britain.

He went with Paulinus to Northumbria. They traveled with Æthelburg of Kent, who was the sister of King Eadbald of Kent. Æthelburg was going to Northumbria to marry King Edwin of Northumbria. This important journey is usually thought to have happened around the year 625.

Staying in Northumbria

King Edwin died in a battle at Hatfield in 633. He was fighting against Penda of Mercia and Caedwalla. King Edwin had been a big supporter of Paulinus's mission. After Edwin's death, many people turned away from Christianity.

Paulinus quickly left Northumbria. He went back to Kent with Æthelburg and her daughter, Eanflæd. But James the Deacon decided to stay behind in Northumbria. He kept working to spread Christianity there.

James mostly worked in Lincoln. Paulinus had built a church there. The old church might be under the current church of St. Paul-in-the-Bail. This area was later taken back by King Oswald of Northumbria in the 640s.

Later Life and Work

Bede, the old writer, says that James lived in a village near Catterick. Bede wrote that this village was still named after James in his time. James did a lot of missionary work in that area. He lived to be very old.

During the time of King Oswiu of Northumbria, James visited the royal court. He celebrated Easter with Oswiu's queen, Eanflæd. Eanflæd was King Edwin's daughter. James and Eanflæd celebrated Easter using the date from the Roman church. However, King Oswiu used the date from the Irish church. These dates were sometimes different. This difference was one reason King Oswiu called the Synod of Whitby in 664. This meeting was held to decide which Easter date his kingdom would follow.

Bede also wrote that James was at the Synod of Whitby. After the meeting, Roman customs were chosen for the kingdom. James was a trained singing teacher. He taught many people plainsong or Gregorian chant in the Roman style.

We don't know the exact date James died. But Bede wrote as if James was still alive during Bede's own lifetime. This means James likely died after Bede was born, perhaps around 671 or 672. If so, he would have been at least 70 years old. Some historians think James might have told Bede many stories. These could include stories about Edwin, Paulinus, and the Synod of Whitby. The historian Frank Stenton called James "the one heroic figure in the Roman mission." This is because many other missionaries left when things got difficult.

After his death, James was honored as a saint. His special day is August 17th in the Catholic Church. The Church of England celebrates his day on October 11th.