Saint Bede

At the age of seven Bede (672-735) was confided to the care of the Abbot Benedict by his family at the newly founded monastery in Wearmouth. The monastery was founded by Benedict Biscop, formerly the Abbot of St Peter’s in Canterbury. He bought builders and glass-workers from continental Europe to help erect the building, thus introducing stone edifices and glass windows to England.
Bede later transferred to Jarrow monastery, where he became a priest in about 703. He devoted his life there to study, writing and prayer. He cheerfully often spent a whole night in prayer and thanksgiving to God. He once wrote “I have devoted my energies to the study of the scriptures, observing monastic discipline and singing the daily services in church; study, teaching and writing have always been my delight.”
Much of our knowledge of England in the Dark Ages prior to the 8th century depends on Bede's historical works and his painstaking efforts to research and validate original sources. Rather than copying from any one source, he researched from several sources to create single volume bibles, a practice which was highly unusual for the time: previously, the bible had circulated as separate books. He also worked on translations of parts of the Bible into old English, unfortunately these have not survived.
His Ecclesiastical History of the English People is a primary source for early English history. It tells of the early Anglo Saxon kingdoms and their conversion to Christianity.
The 62-year old Bede spent the last day of his life at Jarrow Monastery teaching and distributing the few goods he owned to fellow priests. He then knelt on the floor to pray before dying surrounded by his brethren.