Neot was a ninth-century English monk who lived at Glastonbury Abbey before retiring to a secluded life in Cornwall. A member of a minor West Saxon royal branch, he chose a religious path over a military career, earning respect for his scholarship and intense devotion. After seeking guidance from the Pope in Rome, he returned to Cornwall to establish a monastery. He served as its abbot and became a significant religious figure, eventually dying in 877. He is remembered as a saint in several Christian traditions.
Life and ministry
Initially a studious monk at Glastonbury, Neot sought solitude to avoid public praise, moving to a remote area in Cornwall. Following instructions from the Pope, he founded a monastery in this region, where he served as abbot. He was known for his humility and was even noted for rebuking King Alfred regarding his leadership. His reputation for holiness attracted many pilgrims to his monastic community.
Legacy and remains
Following his death, his remains were moved to Eynesbury to increase pilgrimage visits, a move that led to the naming of the town St Neots. While the exact location of his bones became uncertain after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, his influence persists through the Cornish village of St Neot. He is commemorated on July 31.