A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

668 A Source Book for Ancient Church History(c) Bede, Hist. Ec., IV, 5. (MSL, 95:180.)The Council of Hertford A. D. 673. The organization of theAnglo-Saxon Church by Theodore.[610]As the important synod of Whitby marks the beginning ofconformity of the Anglo-Saxon Church under the leadershipof the kingdom of Northumbria to the customs of the RomanChurch, so the synod of Hertford brings the internal organizationof the Church into conformity with the diocesan systemof the Continent and of the East, where the principles of thegeneral councils were at this time most completely enforced.Theodore of Canterbury was a learned Greek who was sent toEngland to be archbishop of Canterbury by Pope Vitalian in668. The Council of Hertford was the first council of all theChurch among the Anglo-Saxons. For the council, see alsoHaddan and Stubbs, Councils and Ecclesiastical Documents,III, 118-122. The text given is that of Plummer.In the name of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, in the perpetualreign of the same Lord Jesus Christ and His governmentof His Church. It seemed good that we should come togetheraccording to the prescription of the venerable canons, to treatof the necessary affairs of the Church. We are met togetheron this 24th day of September, the first indiction in the placecalled Hertford. I, Theodore, although unworthy, appointed bythe Apostolic See bishop of the church of Canterbury, and ourfellow priest the most reverend Bisi, bishop of the East Angles,together with our brother and fellow bishop Wilfrid, bishop ofthe nation of the Northumbrians, present by his proper legates,as also our brethren and fellow bishops, Putta, bishop of theCastle of the Kentishmen called Rochester, Leutherius, bishopof the West Saxons, and Winfrid, bishop of the province of theMercians, were present. When we were assembled and had takenour places, each according to his rank, I said: I beseech you,