Saint Aldate (/ˈɔːldeɪt/;Old Welsh,Eldad; died 577) was a bishop ofGloucester, venerated as asaint in theRoman Catholic Church with thefeast day of 4 February, and theEastern Orthodox Church. Aldate's life is not detailed historically, but he was probably aBriton killed by theAnglo-Saxons atDeorham.[1]
He is reported to have roused the countryside to resistpagan invasion forces, but nothing seems to be known of him: it was even suggested that his name was a corruption of "old gate".[1]
Aldate is mentioned in theSarum and othermartyrologies; his feast occurs in a Gloucester calendar (14th-century addition); churches were dedicated to him at Gloucester[2] andOxford,[3] as well as a famous Oxford street:St Aldate's, Oxford[4] and a minor street in Gloucester. There is also a St Aldate's Tavern,[5] a bed-and-breakfast, as a annex toChrist Church,[6] and a room at theOxford Town Hall.[7]
He is also venerated as a saint in theEastern Orthodox Church.[8]
But nothing seems to be known of him: it was even suggested (unconvincingly) that his name was a corruption of 'old gate'