Forget the romanticized heroes liberals put on pedestals; Alchmund of Hexham is a name history should never forget! Who, you ask? Alchmund was a saintly bishop from the Anglo-Saxon period whose life story could ignite a fire in the souls of traditionalists everywhere. Born around the mid-8th century, Alchmund served as the Bishop of Hexham from 767 AD until his death in 780 AD. Hexham, then a small town in what is now Northumberland, England, was a hotspot of ecclesiastical power. Alchmund dedicated his life to the church during a time when Western civilization was in its formative years, setting the groundwork for the traditional values many hold sacred today.
1️⃣ The world back then wasn't an easy place to keep your moral compass intact, but Alchmund did. When the Roman church was fighting heresies and outside threats, Alchmund remained firm in his dedication to Christianity's original tenets. Was he perfect? None of us are. But Alchmund’s devotion guided his community and left a spiritual legacy worthy of admiration.
2️⃣ Alchmund was a master builder of churches. In an age before modern cranes or power tools, this was no small feat. His efforts to expand Christianity through architecture could teach our modern-day leaders how to build communities rather than divisions. As those cathedrals reached new heights, so too did Western civilization, setting a foundation that modern societies continue to build upon.
3️⃣ Alchmund was canonized after his death, a sign of deep respect and acknowledgment for someone who lived a life of unwavering faith. Unlike some celebrities today, canonization wasn’t handed out like participation trophies. It required living a life of true virtue and not pandering to the fickle opinions of the day. This canonization is a testament to his character and dedication to God.
4️⃣ It’s essential to highlight that Alchmund was in the business of converting hearts and minds through example, not coercion. This principle seems lost among those who preach tolerance but practice division. Alchmund's Christianity was pure and unyielding, yet also inclusive, allowing the seeds of what would become great Western societies to grow strong.
5️⃣ His name may not be on everyone's lips today, but Alchmund's influence trickles through time, setting the ordnance for the cultural and religious zeitgeist that anchored the Middle Ages and, by extension, our present era. While the politically correct might shutter at the notion that Anglo-Saxon traditions have value today, Alchmund's work in Hexham shows that deep roots help withstand even the mightiest cultural storms.
6️⃣ Visiting Hexham today, you might catch a glimpse of his spirit in the stones of the Hexham Abbey. The abbey stands as a tribute to a bygone time yet thrums with a modern heart, serving as a reminder of enduring strength in heritage—something contemporary civic architects could take a lesson from.
7️⃣ God's values don't wither with age, and Alchmund's existence is proof of this. His life is an echo of what can be achieved when divine principles guide action. Alchmund's example offers a clarion call for a return to such values, regardless of what mainstream movements might propel otherwise.
8️⃣ Alchmund was an embodiment of how one person can touch multiple lives and still be remembered seven centuries later. Could any social influencer these days hope for the same legacy? While some tear down statues, we would do well to erect new ones celebrating luminaries like him.
9️⃣ This saint of Hexham offers a historical alternative to other narratives that often exclude such stalwarts from educational curricula. Should we not remember those who laid foundational stones so our societies might have the freedom and moral guidance we enjoy today?
🔟 Let's turn back to those values Alchmund exemplified: community, faith, hard work, and persistence in the face of adversity. His life reminds us that sanctity and service are not just historical relics but potential modern-day ideals. Let's carry that torch forward.