VILLEADO (UILHARD), saint.—First bishop of Bremen, born in Northumberland ca. 740, died at Brexen on the Weser on 8 November 789.
Alcuino (v.), he was probably educated at the school of York. Around 770 he was a priest and worked for the spread of the Gospel in the region of Dockum (Frisia), where St. Bonifacio had been martyred (754). Having achieved no lasting success there, he moved (780), on the orders of Charlemagne, to the still-pagan Saxony on the lower Weser, but continued his attempts at conversion among the Frisians. His missionary activity was obstructed by Widukind’s second uprising (782), and V. fled first to Frisia, then stayed in Rome and subsequently spent two years at the Abbey of Echternach (Luxembourg). After Widukind’s conversion (785), V. immediately went (winter 785), with Charlemagne’s consent, back to the Weser to continue his work of conversion there. On 13 July 787 he was consecrated bishop at Worms and received Bremen as his see; on 1 November 789 he consecrated the episcopal church of St. Peter at Bremen, a splendid wooden structure, but died seven days later. Feast on 13 July (the day of his consecration) or 8 November.