Saint Cuthbert (c. 634 – 20 March 687) was an Anglo-Saxon monk, bishop and hermit, associated with the monasteries of Melrose and Lindisfarne in the Kingdom of Northumbria. After his death he became one of the most important medieval saints of England, with a cult centred at Durham Cathedral. Cuthbert is regarded as the patron saint of northern England. His feast day is 20 March.
He grew up near the new offshoot from Lindisfarne at Melrose Abbey, which is today in Scotland but was then in Northumbria. He had decided to become a monk after seeing a vision on the night in 651 that St Aidan, the founder of Lindisfarne, died, but seems to have seen some military service first. He was quickly made guest-master at the new monastery at Ripon, soon after 655, but had to return with Eata to Melrose when Wilfrid was given the monastery instead.[1] About 662 he was made prior at Melrose, and around 665 went as prior to Lindisfarne. In 684 he was made bishop of Lindisfarne but by late 686 resigned and returned to his hermitage as he felt he was about to die, although he was probably only in his early 50s
12th century wall-painting of St Cuthbert in Durham Cathedral
Cuthbert meets Ælfflæd of Whitby on Coquet Island, Bede's Life of Cuthbert, 12th century
The incorrupt body of Cuthbert fromBede's Life of Cuthbert, 12th century
St Cuthbert's Tomb in Durham Cathedral. Also a damaged statue of St Cuthbert, holding the head of the king St Oswald (whose head was reputed to have been buried with Cuthbert's body)
The Journey by Dr. Fenwick Lawson ARCA, depicts the narrative of the "journey" of the Lindisfarne Community.
