Michael Nixon of the foodbank at Benwell's
Venerable Bede church
The
Venerable Bede is considered by some to be the finest Anglo-Saxon scholar and is the patron saint of scholars and historians.
It said: "We are pleased to announce the proposed conversion of Ian Ramsey Church of England School to an academy within a multi-academy trust in which The
Venerable Bede Church of England Academy in Sunderland will be the lead partner.
Cumbria-born Lord Bragg, who is an authority on the Anglo-Saxon period and on the history of the North, said: "There is no doubt that the beginnings of what is now England lay mostly in the North East and particularly in the work and the circle of the
Venerable Bede.
"However as a global influence of continuing significance, nothing was quite as weighty as, the facts and figures that surrounded the life of the
Venerable Bede.
Before Your Time HOW my heart overflows with pride, When I think of the
venerable Bede, And the teachings and tomes that survived, And the writers this region still breeds.
The centre, devoted to the life of the
Venerable Bede - one of the region's greatest historical figures - closed eight months ago amid financial difficulties.
CHILDREN at a Billingham school stepped back in time when the
Venerable Bede paid them a visit.
But a probe at the
Venerable Bede C of E secondary school found their illnesses were caused by out-of-date mints given out by another pupil.
Paul Wood, church warden at Benwell
Venerable Bede in Newcastle that has been vandalised
"It is essential that its celebration of the life of the
Venerable Bede, through the museum, farm and other educational services, remains a key element of its work, but recent history has shown that it must have wider appeal."
They say combining their skills will ensure that the historical part of the venue, which includes a PS4m museum celebrating the life and work of 7th-century historian and scholar the
Venerable Bede, is central to future plans.