of Lindisfarne
The Celtic Saints
Lindisfarne, as the island was then known, became an early centre of Christianity in the north of Britain. Hadrian's Wall which stretches from near Newcastle on Tyne to the Solway Firth marks the position which the Romans had defended Britain against pictish invaders from the north, and that division remained when the Romans were forced to withdraw, and culturally Britain remained thus divided, so that when Augustine began the conversion of Britain from Kent in 597, the north remained untouched.
But things were changing in the North, as the celtic Christians who had brought the faith to Ireland in the 6th century began to extend their influence to Britain, and the Christian history of the North was under the strong influence of three 'Celtic Saints'
ST OSWALD
In 634, a Christian convert, Oswald,who had been in exile in Scotland, defeated Cadwallon, king of North Wales and so was able to reunited the kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira. He established his headquarters at Bamburgh, from there ruling over a kingdom stretching from the Humber to the Forth
Desirous of converting his kingdom to his faith,.he sent to the established monastery at Iona off the west coast of Scotland to send missionaries to his realm. They first sent Corman, who found the Northumbrian people uncivilized and barborous.
ST AIDAN
Aidan arrived in Northumbria in 635, and sought a location for a new monastery as a base from which to evangelise Oswald's kingdom. He chose Lindisfarne probably on two grounds. It was close to Oswald's base in Bamburgh, and secondly for Aidan, accustomed to the isolation of Iona, it was an island location. Aidan has a major impact; he won and baptised many converts. He was devoted to his work and was noted for his gentle and devout character.
So Aidan's mission flourished, lands were given to the church, churhces and monasteries were built and the monks carried out the task of educating the children. True servant that he was, Aidan succeeded wher Corman had failed.
ST CUTHBERT
Cuthbert became during and more especially after his lifetime one of the most venerated figures in English Christian history. He was born in 635, and in 651 (the year of Aidan's death) entered the monastery in Melrose in the Scottish borders. The night Aidan died (31 December) Cuthbert, who was out on the Lammermuir hills, had a vision which led him to go and offer his services to Eata. He began spreading the Gospel across Northumbria, before serving under Eata at Lindisfarne. Cuthbert was a man who was devoted to a love of people and a simple lifetyle.
He found the outcome of the Synod of Whitby hard to live with; outwardly he confromed to the authority of Rome, but inwardly he maintained a simple Celtic spirit, setting up a hermitage on what is now known as Saint Cuthbert's Isle. From Lindisfarne he set up a hermitage on Inner Farne and led a life of prayer and contemplation. In 685, King Egfrid asked him to become Bishop of Lindisfarne, but ill-health meant he had to retire in 687 and return to Inner Farne where he died shortly after. His body was returned to Lindisfarne and entombed near the High Altar. Many pilgrims made their way to the island there to offer homage to Cuthbert. In 793 the Vikings attacked and sacked Lindisfarne; the monks were able to make escape with much of the church treasure and also the coffin of Cuthbert, which was moved to a shrine in Durham.
 Statue of Aidan north of Priory |
 Saint Cuthbert's Isle |
One of the major achievements of the Lindisfarne monks, after Cuthbert's death were the 'Lindisfarne Gospels'. The richly ornamented gospels, wriiten inn honour of Cuthbert, were preserved from the Vikings and exist to this day, in the British Museum: a facsimile is on display in the Visitor Centre
