Abstract

Fowler, Colin At the laying of the foundation stone of the Pyrmont church in February 1867 it was announced that the new mission district would be placed under the patronage of the Venerable Bede. There is no documentation relating to the choice of this patron. However, it may be supposed that the decision was made deliberately to honour the archbishop. The name of this eighth-century English monk had been given to the young John Polding as his personal patron, when he received the Benedictine habit in 1810.