Diuma

Diuma (Dimma) (d. 658), bishop of the Middle Angles and Mercians. Of Irish origin, Diuma was one of the four priests sent by Finan, bishop of Lindisfarne, to evangelize Mercia after the baptism of Peada, son of Penda c.652. The others were Cedd, Betti, and Adda, of whom nothing is known. Their apostolate in Mercia, according to Bede, was most successful. When Penda died in 654, the Christian King Oswiu of Northumbria ruled Mercia for a few years; during this time Diuma was consecrated bishop by Finan over the peoples of the Mercians and Middle Angles. It seems that he worked mainly among the latter and died in a district called Infeppingum. The 11th-century Anglo-Saxon saints' list (R.P.S) says that he lies buried at Charlbury (Oxon.); the form of his name led to a belief that Dimma (Diuma) was a woman. Feast 7 December.

Bibliography
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• Bede, H.E., ii. 21: R.P.S.