St. Cedd also known as Cedda was a 7th century monk from Northumbria. He was the brother of another well known monk, St. Chad. It is thanks to the great historian St. Bede that we learn of Cedd. He was professed at the monastery of Lindisfarne and when King Peada of Mercia, of the Middle Angles, was converted to Christianity, Cedd's superior, St. Finian sent him with three other priest to evangelize the people of the Middle Angles.

After this he was sent to Essex to evangelize the people of King Sigebert of East Saxony. He was consecrated bishop of the East Saxons by Finian of Lindisfarne. He founded two monasteries which were apparently destroyed during Danish invasions. The first at Bradwell-on-Sea, still shows the remains of St. Cedd's church. The other monastery was at Tilbury.

On a visit to his native Northumbria Cedd founded a monastery at Laestingaeu in 658. This was also destroyed by the Danes. In 664 he attended the Synod of Whitby as an interpreter for the Irish participants. Forsaking the Celtic custom, he accepted the observance of Easter according to the Roman calendar.

It was soon after this Synod that he was infected with the plague and died on October 26, 664. According to Bede's Ecclesiastical History, after Cedd's death forty of his religious brothers came to Lastingham to consecrate their lives to these peoples, but they too died of the plague.

Looking at the details of Cedd's life his holiness consisted of his energetic acceptance of all that was asked of him. He was obedient to his superiors and he expended all of his attention and energy to faithfully living the monastic life and spreading the Word of God.