The Church of St Chad in Lichfield, Staffordshire (visible in the background) is thought to stand more or less on the site of the 7th century saint’s monastery, and this well in the churchyard is believed to be part of the spring in which Chad used to baptise.
Introduction
After St Chad was consecrated Bishop of Mercia in 669, he took up residence in Lichfield at a monastery of his own foundation, and soon people were coming from miles around for his advice and healing prayers. He also built himself a little private chapel, and spent many hours there alone.
BROTHER Owen was busy digging near Chad’s private oratory, when he heard the sound of many voices singing. That puzzled him: the Abbot, he knew, was praying alone, and everyone else away on errands. Moreover, the sound was coming from across fields to the southeast.
The voices, which had been growing louder, were suddenly muffled; now they definitely came from inside the chapel. Some thirty minutes passed, and then with a joyous fortissimo they burst through the roof, before fading on the breeze.
When Owen took the Abbot aside and asked about the singing, Chad revealed that angels had visited him, and would return in seven days to take him home.
A week later, a monk named Egbert, far away at the Irish monastery where Chad had once lived, stood watching the skies in wonder. For there was his old friend Chad, with Chad’s dear departed brother Cedd leading him by the hand, going up to heaven’s rest, amidst a flight of singing angels.
Based on ‘A History of the English Church and People’ Book IV Chapter 3, by St Bede of Jarrow (early 8th century); and ‘Holy Hierarch Chad of Lichfield, Apostle of Mercia, Wonderworker’, by Dmitry Lapa at ‘Pravoslavie’.
Précis
Owen, a 7th century monk, heard the sound of an invisible choir cross the fields, and enter the chapel where St Chad was praying. Chad later told Owen that it was some angels, who had come to prepare him for death. Sure enough, a week later an old friend miles away in Ireland saw angels carry Chad up into heaven. (60 / 60 words)
Owen, a 7th century monk, heard the sound of an invisible choir cross the fields, and enter the chapel where St Chad was praying. Chad later told Owen that it was some angels, who had come to prepare him for death. Sure enough, a week later an old friend miles away in Ireland saw angels carry Chad up into heaven.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, because, despite, may, not, or, otherwise, whereas.
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Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Before. Name. There.
2 Definite. Depart. Up.
3 Across. Digging. Monastery.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
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