Aelred was born in 1110 to Anglo-Saxon parents. His father, Eilaf, was hereditary priest of the
church of St Andrew, Hexham. A talented and religious boy, at about the age of 14 he entered
the service of King David I of Scotland where he rose to become the steward of the household.

In 1134, Aelred learned of Rievaulx Abbey and the Cistercian monks that had arrived there
under the leadership of Abbot William. The rigour of the monks’ life inspired Aelred to seek
admission to the community where he excelled at prayer, study and manual labour and he was even chosen as a representative to Pope Lucius II.

In 1147 Aelred became the third abbot at Rievaulx Abbey and over the next 20 years the name of Rievaulx became famous at the royal courts of England, France and Scotland and to popes in Rome. All of the monks at Rievaulx found Aelred a loving and compassionate leader, calling him ‘our Aelred’.

Aelred wrote many books but his most well known is On Spiritual Friendship.

“No medicine is more valuable, none more efficacious, none better suited to the cure of all our temporal ills than a friend to whom we may turn for consolation in time of trouble, and with
whom we may share our happiness in time of joy.”

Aelred became very ill and died in 1167. He was immediately regarded as a saint.

At St Aelred’s school, we all strive to follow Aelred’s model of friendship; to be there to support each other at times of need and to be ready to celebrate each other’s successes.

Friendship is one of our core values and we take joy in celebrating our special saint every year on 12th January.