There has been a church at St Bees since at least the 10th century, and it is one of a very small number of churches, mostly on the western coast, dedicated to St Bega. She was said to be an Irish princess who had sworn a vow of chastity, and fled to England to found a nunneryNunnery A communal religious house for nuns. at St Bees rather than marry a VikingViking Customarily refers to the Scandinavian explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, and settled in wide areas of Europe and the North Atlantic islands from the late eighth to the mid-eleventh century.There is some debate over the meaning of this word, which is attested but rarely used in the early medieval period. It was revived as a term in Scandinavian languages in the 17th century and in English in the early 19th. In contemporary sources it refers to a raider or pirate, often in association with ships and predatory activity. Some modern scholars try to keep to this restricted definition; others are happy with a wider range of meaning, applying the word to Scandinavians and their culture from approximately 790 to the mid or late 11th century, especially outside the Scandinavian homelands. prince. Surviving fragments of 10th century crosses showing interlace patterns point to the early importance of this site for ChristianChristian Name originally given to disciples of Jesus by outsiders and gradually adopted by the Early Church to designate all members of the church. worshipWorship 1. Doing homage and giving honour and respect to God. The Bible includes a wide range of physical expression in worship, including bowing down, lifting hands, dancing, processions and singing. The main day on which Christians gather for communal worship is Sunday (the day when Christ is believed to have risen from the dead). 2. Christian liturgy including sung material and prayers of thanksgiving and praise.. When the Normans founded, or re-founded, a monasteryMonastery The house of a religious community here in the 12th century there was a long tradition of venerating St Bega, based around an ancient bracelet that she was believed to have owned.