Holy Island.

Image: Lindisfarne Priory, Holy Island, Northumberland.

Lindisfarne. Northumberland.

Just amazing !! I have lived in Northumbria all my life, to see photograghs like these brings Northumbria in to my home.

Image: Lindisfarne Priory.

Lindisfarne Priory. Holy Island, Northumberland.

Lindisfarne's Norman priory stands on the site of an Anglo-Saxon monastery founded by St Aidan in A.D 635, on land granted by Oswald, King and Saint of Northumbria. Aidan is believed to have chosen the island site because of its isolation and proximity to the Northumbrian capital at Bamburgh. Aidan the first Bishop of Lindisfarne, a Scots-Celtic monk from the isle of Iona, travelled widely throughout Northumbria and with the help of King Oswald as interpreter, began the conversion of the pagan Northumbrians to Christianity.

Image: Lindisfarne Priory.

In AD 793 Lindisfarne Priory was sacked by the Vikings and most of the monks were slain. The Anglo-Saxon chronicle records the events in dramatic fashion:
"Terrible portents came over the land of the Northumbrians and miserably frightened the people. There were immense sheets of light rushing through the air,and whirlwinds, and fiery dragons flying across the firmament. These tremendous tokens were soon followed by a great famine, and a little after that in the same year on the sixth of the Ides of June the harrying of heathen men miserably destroyed God's church in Lindisfarne through rapine and slaughter".

Image: St. Aidan.

St. Aidan.

Image:

St. Mary's Church. Lindisfarne.

SAINT MARY'S

I kneel and say a little prayer,
Then sit and gaze around
High to the rafters, then to the ground
The Church, although but dimly lit,
Through stained glass windows sunlight flits.

Saints in their robes are looking down
Upon their faces I see peace profound.
I look again, and what I see,
I wish that I a Saint could be.

The Priest in robes of green and gold,
Gives thanks to God, for gifts untold.
The choir boys in their robes of white,
To me they are a Heavenly sight.

Such beauty and peace then enters my heart,
I really think I am a part
Of all those prayers and songs of praise,
Yet sit and feel I'm in a daze.
A Glimpse of Heaven - I am amazed.

Esme Noreen Lloyd. 1994. (with thanks to Cosette Allsopp (nee Lloyd) daughter of Esme.