St Cuthbert (England’s first ‘environmentalist saint!)
It’s amazing that people don’t read more about our saints, as their miracles (which were well documented) are far more interesting than reading about reality TV! As well as protecting local wildlife, St Cuthbert (a Northumbrian Celtic monk) was also a hermit who performed all kinds of strange good goings-on!
He was known to protect local eider ducks, and legend was that otters would dry his skin with their fur, after he had swam in the chilly North Sea.
Some miracles included:
- Calming a raging sea, so stranded monks could return to shore.
- Stopping a strong wind that was hindering boatmen carrying wood.
- Extinguished a fire, saving a village by the power of his prayers.
- He reportedly purified the Farne Islands of demons on his arrival.
- He also knew when he was going to die. And when he did, examination of his body found it had not decayed, after 11 years.
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.
Always check the tide times, as it cuts off twice a day by the North Sea, and many people don’t look at warning signs, and have to be rescued. Avoid poor weather/dusk (most people use the bus!)
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.
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).
