Beadwulf was the last Bishop of Candida Casa to be consecrated by the Archbishop of York. He appears in four years of the chronicles and nowhere else. Nothing else is known of him, and his sole historical significance is that he was a bishop of the short-lived Northumbrian episcopal see of Candida Casa at Whithorn.
Beadwulf (alternately spelled Baldwulf, Badulf, Badwulf, or Baldulf) enters the historical record at his consecration as the Bishop of Candida Casa by Archbishop Eanbald I on 17 July 791, after his predecessor at Candida Casa, Æthelberht, was made the Bishop of Hexham. On 26 May 795 he attended the consecration of King Eardwulf of Northumbria at York, and then on 14 August 796 he attended the consecration of Eanbald II at Sockburn as the new Archbishop of York. On 11 June 803 Beadwulf attended the consecration of Egbert at Bywell as the new Bishop of Lindisfarne. No further record exists, either of him or of the See of Candida Casa.
William of Malmesbury says that the bishopric at Candida Casa was depopulated and destroyed by the incursions of Picts and Gaels. De Gestis Pontificum Anglorum, Liber III, §118 Candida Casa There is no evidence to suggest any large-scale predations in Galloway at this time, but whether or not that was the case, it is certainly likely that the bishopric simply withered and died along with the other Northumbrian bishoprics.
791 – His consecration as Bishop of Candida Casa
The Saxon Chronicle says that Beadwulf was consecrated bishop of Candida Casa by Archbishop Eanbald I and Bishop Æthelberht of Hexham on 17 July 791. The Saxon Chronicle, Entry for AD 791 Symeon of Durham, writing c. 1108, says that the consecration occurred in a place called "Hearrahaleh". Symeon of Durham, Entry for AD 791 Henry of Huntingdon, writing c. 1155, says that the consecration was by Eanbald I. Henry of Huntingdon, Entry of 789 – 792
795 – At the consecration of King Eardwulf
The Saxon Chronicle says that Eardwulf succeeded to the Northumbrian kingdom on 14 May 795, and was consecrated on 26 May 795 at York by Archbishop Eanbald I and bishops Æthelberht of Hexham, Higbald of Lindisfarne, and Beadwulf. The Saxon Chronicle, Entry for AD 795
796 – At the consecration of Archbishop Eanbald II The Saxon Chronicle says that Archbishop Eanbald I died on 10 August 796 and was succeeded by Eanbald II, who was consecrated on 14 August 796. There is no mention of who attended, or the place. The Saxon Chronicle, Entry for AD 796 Symeon of Durham says that the consecration occurred at Sockburn, with bishops Æthelberht, Higbald, and Beadwulf attending. Symeon of Durham, Entry for AD 796 The Melrose Chronicle agrees that the three bishops attended the consecration, but makes no mention of its location. Chronica de Mailros, Entry for AD 796
803 – At the consecration of Bishop Egbert of Lindisfarne
The Saxon Chronicle for 803 says that Bishop Higbald of Lindisfarne died on 24 June 803, and was succeeded by Egbert on 13 June 804. There is no mention of who attended, or the place. The Saxon Chronicle, Entry for AD 803 Symeon of Durham says that Higbald died on 25 May 803, and that Egbert's consecration was on 11 June 803 at Bywell, with Archbishop Eanbald II and bishops Eanbert of Hexham and Beadwulf in attendance. Symeon of Durham, Chapter XX, entry for AD 803 John of Worcester, writing in 1140, says that Higbald died in 802 and that his successor Egbert was consecrated by Archbishop Eanbald II on 2 June 802. Florence of Worcester, Entry for AD 802
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