Lindisfarne Monastery, Northumberland

Around 635, on an island in England - Holy Island, Saint Aidan, born in Iral, founded the Lindisfarne monastery. Over the years, Lindisfarne Monastery became an important center of early Christian learning. Saint Aidan was sent by Iona to the west coast of Scotland in Northumbria at the request of King Oswald of Northumbria. To him is due the Christian evangelization of the North of England, and the success of the mission in Mercia.

The most famous follower of Saint Aidan is the extraordinary miracle worker Saint Cuthbert. This saint is the most venerated saint in the west. The buildings of Lindisfarne Priory date long after he lived there. In 685 he became abbot of Lindisfarne monastery and died two years later. Lindisfarne Monastery became an interesting lure for the Vikings, and after a series of robberies in 875, the monks finally surrendered and moved away from the island. They took with them the mortal remains of St. Cuthbert and the "Lindisfarnian Gospels." They manage to settle in Durham and there with the remains of the saint they make a shrine in the local cathedral.

The remains of the monastery are in the care of English Heritage, which also maintains a museum visitor center nearby. The adjacent parish church is still in use.