The Naming of Bishop Ithamar

Abstract

Ithamar, bishop of Rochester from about 644, was the first Anglo‐Saxon to be consecrated bishop. Sharpe notes that he took his name from one of the sons of Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar, from whom descended the priestly families of the Old Testament period. This must have been a name chosen upon consecration—there are other examples of the adoption of episcopal names in this period—but an OT name of this kind lies outside the practice attested for the Gregorian mission in England or in its Roman background, or that for Irish bishops in England and the Englishmen consecrated by them. Only among the British churches of Wales and Cornwall is there any custom of using OT names such as David, Asaph, Samson, &c. The naming of Bishop Ithamar hints that there was more significant British influence on the early English church, even in Kent, than Bede was aware of or willing to admit.