Lindisfarne: Difference between revisions
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'''Lindisfarne''', also called ''Holy Island'', is an island off the north-east coast of [[England]], which is connected to the mainland of [[Northumberland]] by a causeway, and is cut off twice a day by tides. |
'''Lindisfarne''', also called ''Holy Island'' (variant spelling, Lindesfarne), is an island off the north-east coast of [[England]], which is connected to the mainland of [[Northumberland]] by a causeway, and is cut off twice a day by tides. |
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The [[abbey|monastery]] of '''Lindisfarne''' was founded by Saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], who had been sent from [[Iona]], off the west coast of Scotland to [[Northumbria]] at the request of King Oswald around [[635]] A.D. It became the base for Christian evangelisation in the North of England. Monks from the community of Iona settled on the island. [[Northumberland]]'s saint, [[Cuthbert]] was a monk, and later [[Abbot]] of the [[monastery]], and his miracles and life are recorded by the [[Venerable Bede]]. He later became [[Bishop of Durham]]. |
The [[abbey|monastery]] of '''Lindisfarne''' was founded by Saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], who had been sent from [[Iona]], off the west coast of Scotland to [[Northumbria]] at the request of King Oswald around [[635]] A.D. It became the base for Christian evangelisation in the North of England. Monks from the community of Iona settled on the island. [[Northumberland]]'s saint, [[Cuthbert]] was a monk, and later [[Abbot]] of the [[monastery]], and his miracles and life are recorded by the [[Venerable Bede]]. He later became [[Bishop of Durham]]. |
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Revision as of 20:25, 13 August 2002
Lindisfarne, also called Holy Island (variant spelling, Lindesfarne), is an island off the north-east coast of England, which is connected to the mainland of Northumberland by a causeway, and is cut off twice a day by tides.
The monastery of Lindisfarne was founded by Saint Aidan, who had been sent from Iona, off the west coast of Scotland to Northumbria at the request of King Oswald around 635 A.D. It became the base for Christian evangelisation in the North of England. Monks from the community of Iona settled on the island. Northumberland's saint, Cuthbert was a monk, and later Abbot of the monastery, and his miracles and life are recorded by the Venerable Bede. He later became Bishop of Durham.
Starting in the early 700s, monks of the community produced the famous illuminated manuscript known as the Lindisfarne Gospels, an illustrated Latin copy of the Gospels of Mark, Luke, Matthew and John. Sometime in the 900s a monk named Eadfrith added an Anglo-Saxon (Old English) gloss to the Latin text, producing one of the earliest Old English copies of the Gospels. The Gospels are illustrated in a Celtic style, and were originally covered with a fine metal case made by a hermit. This, however, was lost when Viking raids in 793 sacked the monastery, decimated the community, and forced the monks to flee (taking with them the body of St Cuthbert, which is now buried at the Cathedral in Durham) The Lindisfarne Gospels now reside in the British Library in London, somewhat to the annoyance of Northumbrians.
Lindisfarne has remained mainly a fishing community for many years, but recently the Christian presence on the island has returned, and the ruins of the priory have been restored and made into a museum. At present, Lindisfarne has become the centre for the revival of Celtic Christianity in the North of England, and the minister of the church there, is a well-known author of Celtic Christian books and prayers. Following on this Lindisfarne has become a popular retreat centre, as well as holiday destination.
Lindisfarne also has a small but ancient castle, which was re-furbished in the Arts and Crafts style by Sir Edwin Lutyens and has a garden created by Gertrude Jekyll.
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Lindisfarne was also the name of a popular British folk/rock band of the 1960s and 1970s. Their most enduring song was Fog on the Tyne.