I have long been fascinated with St. Cuthbert. I think of him as belonging to the Celtic Christianity, he was part of the Synod of Whitby. He lived a simple almost Hermetic life,
around Bamburgh, Lindisfarne, and the Farne Islands. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuthbert
Never having been to Northumberland, it always sounds silly to say you are from England and not been to the North, but when you are from a Southern Island, to me it makes sense.
In April I mentioned to my cousin Sue, that I wanted to take a train up to the North for a week when I came over. Sue immediately said she wanted to go too, and would be happy to drive.
Our first stop was Durham, Cuthbert’s last resting place. His coffin was moved there from St. Mary le Bow. We arrived there in time to take part in the Shrine prayers in honor of St. Cuthbert in the Shrine. I knew we were on the right track.
We reached Bamburgh in the early evening. Our B & B, Bamburgh Hall Farm next to St. Aidans church. Bede writes that St. Aidan first built the church there, outside the Castle walls in AD635.
As we left to find dinner a rainbow appeared over the castle. Our trip was being blessed.
I was very excited about visiting Lindisfarne. Now I have to admit I was a little disappointed. It was beautiful. The castle interesting but I wanted there to be very few people, which was not the case. It put me off wanting to be part of any further tours etc.
The remains of the Priory were amazing. There are far more interesting remains of Cromwell and Henry VIII reformation in the North. My favorite is Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, and of course Whitby. I did so want there to be the old Bee hive shape wattle huts. However, St. Mary’s church in Lindisfarne has a copy of St. Cuthbert’s coffin with it’s carving of the apostles and some of Cuthbert’s Life. http://www.stmarysholyisland.org.uk/tour.htm#
The remains of the Priory were amazing.
Bamburgh Hall was wonderful. Sue and I both agreed it could have been my mothers house. Homey but a little disorganized. Breakfast, the first morning I had ordered the full cooked, but got downstairs to discover that they had Muesli, local yogurt, stewed rhubarb, stewed gooseberries and fresh picked raspberries from their garden. That and fresh coffee and I was very happy. We enjoyed the communal breakfast table, chatting happily to the other guests.
Gertrude Jekyl's walled garden at Lindisfarne
Our first stop was Durham, Cuthbert’s last resting place. His coffin was moved there from St. Mary le Bow. We arrived there in time to take part in the Shrine prayers in honor of St. Cuthbert in the Shrine. I knew we were on the right track.
We reached Bamburgh in the early evening. Our B & B, Bamburgh Hall Farm next to St. Aidans church. Bede writes that St. Aidan first built the church there, outside the Castle walls in AD635.
As we left to find dinner a rainbow appeared over the castle. Our trip was being blessed.
I was very excited about visiting Lindisfarne. Now I have to admit I was a little disappointed. It was beautiful. The castle interesting but I wanted there to be very few people, which was not the case. It put me off wanting to be part of any further tours etc.
The remains of the Priory were amazing. There are far more interesting remains of Cromwell and Henry VIII reformation in the North. My favorite is Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, and of course Whitby. I did so want there to be the old Bee hive shape wattle huts. However, St. Mary’s church in Lindisfarne has a copy of St. Cuthbert’s coffin with it’s carving of the apostles and some of Cuthbert’s Life. http://www.stmarysholyisland.org.uk/tour.htm#
The remains of the Priory were amazing.
Bamburgh Hall was wonderful. Sue and I both agreed it could have been my mothers house. Homey but a little disorganized. Breakfast, the first morning I had ordered the full cooked, but got downstairs to discover that they had Muesli, local yogurt, stewed rhubarb, stewed gooseberries and fresh picked raspberries from their garden. That and fresh coffee and I was very happy. We enjoyed the communal breakfast table, chatting happily to the other guests.
Gertrude Jekyl's walled garden at Lindisfarne
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