Saint Acca of Hexham

Saint Acca of Hexham, sometimes known simply as Acca or Acca of Northumbria, was a bishop and church leader in early England. He lived during the late 7th and early 8th centuries. He is best remembered for his work in the north of England, especially as the Bishop of Hexham. His life was marked by strong faith, learning, and love for the Church.

Acca was born in Northumbria, in what is now northern England. This part of the country was important in the early years of the English Church. It was a time of great change. The people were moving from old customs to the Christian faith.

Not much is known about Acca’s early years. But what we do know is that he became a close friend and helper to other holy men of his time. He worked alongside bishops, monks, and missionaries. These friendships shaped his life.

Throughout his years, Acca was known as a faithful man. He loved the Church. He gave his life to helping others grow in faith. He also helped build up the Church in Northumbria, both in spirit and in stone.

Though he is not as well-known as some other saints, Acca made a strong mark in his own way. His work as a bishop, teacher, and builder still speaks to the Church today.

Acca became a close follower of Saint Wilfrid, one of the great bishops of that time. Wilfrid was known for traveling and teaching. He had strong ideas about the Church and how it should grow. Acca became his friend and traveled with him on many journeys.

Together, they went to Rome and other places. These trips helped Acca learn more about the wider Church. He saw how other Christians prayed, sang, and studied. He brought many of these good things back with him.

When Wilfrid died, Acca stayed in Northumbria. He had learned much from his teacher. Not long after, Acca became the Bishop of Hexham around the year 709. This was a big job, but Acca was ready.

As bishop, Acca looked after the people, the churches, and the priests. He made sure that worship was strong and holy. He also made sure the Church was a place of learning.

He had a deep love for music and teaching. He wanted the people to know more about the faith and to sing with joy in church. He also helped train young men who would one day become priests or monks.

Acca took what he had learned from Wilfrid and others and shared it with many. He did not keep knowledge for himself. He helped the Church grow stronger in his time.

Acca was more than just a bishop. He was also a builder. He helped repair and improve churches in his area. He made sure they were places where people could come together to pray, learn, and worship.

He paid special attention to the church in Hexham. He made it a place of beauty and prayer. He may have brought in workers and artists from other lands to help with this work. He wanted God’s house to be a place of peace and beauty.

Acca also loved music. He thought music was important in worship. He brought in singers and teachers to help improve the way people sang in church. He believed that music could lift people’s spirits and help them pray better.

He also worked to bring books and learning to Hexham. In a time when books were rare, this was a big task. But Acca believed that reading and learning were good for the soul. He wanted his priests and monks to be wise and ready to teach others.

He was a friend to Bede, a monk and writer who lived nearby. Bede wrote many books about the Church and history. He praised Acca for his wisdom and for helping others grow in faith.

Acca’s love for learning and worship made Hexham a strong center of the Church. His work helped shape the Church in northern England for years to come.

Later in life, Acca faced trouble. Around the year 732, he was removed from his role as bishop. No one knows exactly why. Some say it may have been due to disagreements with powerful people. Others say he may have chosen to leave.

After leaving Hexham, Acca may have gone to live in another part of the country. Some stories say he became a bishop again in a different place. Others say he lived quietly as a monk or in prayer.

Even though his time as bishop ended in a hard way, people still respected him. He stayed faithful. He did not stop praying or serving others.

There are places that remember him from these later years. Some believe he lived in the area around Witham or in the south of England. It is not clear where he spent his last years.

What is clear is that he remained a man of prayer and wisdom. He was not forgotten by those who knew him. They still saw him as a holy man and a faithful leader.

His time as bishop had ended, but his life as a follower of Christ continued.

After Acca died, his body was buried in Hexham. His tomb became a place of prayer. People came to visit, to pray, and to ask for his help. Many believed he was close to God and would listen to their prayers.

Over the years, the church at Hexham was rebuilt. But the memory of Acca stayed strong. Even when the church was damaged or changed, people still remembered him. His name was linked with the town and the church.

Writers and monks spoke of him with honor. They told of his learning, his music, and his deep faith. They kept his story alive. Even hundreds of years later, people still knew who he was.

Churches and chapels in different places were named after him. People kept his memory not only in Hexham, but in other parts of England too.

He became known as a saint, not by great power or big miracles, but by a faithful and holy life. His example gave hope and direction to others who wanted to serve God.

Saint Acca was remembered as a man who built up the Church with prayer, music, and learning. He lived a quiet but faithful life. He helped others grow close to God and made the Church stronger in his time.

His feast day is October 20. On this day, the Church remembers his life and gives thanks for his work. He is honored as a saint for his teaching, his care for worship, and his love of learning.

In some traditions, Acca is seen as a patron of learning and church music. This fits with how he lived. He brought beauty into worship and helped others grow in wisdom.

Acca’s life reminds us that not all saints are famous or dramatic. Some, like him, serve quietly, build patiently, and pray faithfully. Their work lasts even when their names are forgotten by many.

Saint Acca of Hexham is one of these holy people. His life still speaks through the music, books, and churches he helped grow. He reminds us that quiet work for God is never wasted.

He lived in the 600s, when England was full of new Christians, old pagans, and lots of sheep.

He was a close friend of Saint Wilfrid, one of the boldest bishops around. They traveled all over the place together.

Wilfrid once got kicked out of his bishop job, and Acca followed him like a loyal sidekick. Best buddy energy.

They went on a missionary road trip to Frisia (part of modern-day Netherlands), preaching to pagans. No car, just sandals.

After Wilfrid died, Acca became the bishop of Hexham in Northumbria. He got promoted from helper to head honcho.

He loved learning. He filled the church library with books—by hand, of course. No e-books in sight.

He was especially into music. He brought Roman chant traditions to England and made sure the monks knew their notes.

He built up Hexham’s church buildings and made them beautiful. One of the towers may still be standing.

He trained choirs and made worship more joyful and organized. Probably said things like, “Louder on the Alleluia!”

He welcomed scholars and holy people from all over to teach and learn. Hexham became a holy study hub.

He was a great preacher too. People said he could explain the Bible clearly without putting anyone to sleep.

He was friends with the Venerable Bede, the great Church historian. That’s a good reference.

Some think Acca gave Bede a lot of his source material. So he may have helped write history without writing it himself.

After some time, something mysterious happened. Acca left Hexham. Some say he was exiled. Others say he just left quietly.

He ended up in Witham, in Lincolnshire, where he kept serving as a bishop.

He died around 740, still faithful and still teaching.

His relics were placed in Hexham Abbey. People came to pray there for centuries.

He’s the patron saint of learning, choirs, and faithful assistants who later get promoted.

His symbol is often a bishop’s staff, a book, or musical notes—especially Gregorian-style ones.

He reminds us that Church leaders don’t just preach—they build, teach, sing, and sometimes pack up and keep going.