The History of Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne

In 635AD, Lindisfarne is where St Aidan came to found his monastery. He was a well-travelled monk who was from Ireland and had already lived as a monk on the Isle of Iona in the Scottish Highlands.

Lindisfarne is a small island off the coast of Northumberland, only around 200 people live there, but 650,000 yearly tourists. Just 3 by 1.5 miles, the mudflats that separate it from the mainland are protected nature reserves.

Keep dogs away from sand dunes (due to birds and seals). Also check the tide times, as stranded people in cars have to be rescued. Read more on tidal causeways and keeping dogs safe by the seaside.

St Aiden learned English (he spoke Gaelic) and died in Bamburgh on the Northumbrian coast. He is now known as the one who converted all the Northumbrian heathens to Christianity!

There is a lovely story about St Aidan, in that he made a stag invisible, so it would not been seen by hunters. Wouldn’t that be lovely if someone could do that today?

Another saint associated with this tiny island is St Eadberht (a bishop who is now buried in Durham cathedral).

You can take an ancient pilgrimage on the Northern Saints Trails. These six routes cover County Durham and Northumberland (including the island of Lindisfarne).

England used to be a Roman Catholic country until the Reformation when Henry VIII banned it, so he could divorce. Many monks and nuns were killed.