Aldhelm
A kinsman and advisor to King Ine of the West Saxons, St. Aldhelm (c. 709) is accounted the first scholar in England. He began his education under Mældulf, the founder of Malmesbury, and completed it at the cathedral school in Canterbury under Adrian. Aldhelm later directed the school at Malmesbury and became abbot c. 675. Some believe he introduced the Rule of St. Benedict into this Celtic monastery; he was known for promoting conformity with Roman usage among the Celts. He was appointed bishop of Sherborne in 705 and died four years later while on an episcopal visit.
Aldhelm penned a treatise on virginity for the nuns at Barking, which he presented to its abbess, Hildelith; he also composed a treatise on metrics which includes his riddles. He was read in England and on the continent until the XI Century. Alfred the Great praises Aldhelm's vernacular verse, which has not survived, and Bede praises his Latin style, which is now thought turgid and over-erudite. Tatwine and Boniface imitated Aldhelm's Latin style, as did many charter writers.
Karen Rae Keck
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