Alcuin was born about 730 near York, into a noble family related to Willibrord, the first missionary to the Netherlands. He was educated at the cathedral school in York under Archbishop Egbert, a pupil of Bede. He thus inherited the best traditions of learning and zeal of the early English church.

After ordination as a deacon in 770, he became head of the York school. It was not uncommon for theologians and intellectuals in the early and medieva…