Never, sadly, having capacity to be like Bede! (9)
I believe the answer is:
venerable
'be like bede' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'never sadly having capacity' is the wordplay.
'sadly' is an anagram indicator.
'having capacity' becomes 'able' (being capable).
'never' with letters rearranged gives 'vener'.
'vener'+'able'='VENERABLE'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for venerable that I've seen before include "like Bede" , "Worthy of reverence" .)