Lindisfarne Priory

Lindisfarne Priory ruins

Lindisfarne Priory

Where is it – England, North East England

Who looks after it –  English Heritage 

What is it –  Abbey-Monastery, Ruin 

When is it from – Dark Ages, Medieval

Lindisfarne – also known as Holy Island – is one of the most important centres of early English Christianity. King Oswald invited Celtic monks from Iona to spread Christianity in Northumbria and St Aidan founded a monastery on Lindisfarne in 635 AD. A monk named Cuthbert joined the monastery sometime in the 670s – he went on to became Lindisfarne’s greatest monk-bishop and the most venerated saint in northern England in the Middle Ages. The whole place is packed with history. The Lindisfarne Gospels were created here in the early 8th century. The monks left following violent, destructive, Viking attacks and today’s visible ruins date from the early 12th century. NB Holy Island is only accessible at certain times via a causeway across the sea that is covered twice a day. The tides come in very quickly; check carefully before setting out and be sure you have time to cross.

 


Address

Holy Island, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland TD15 2RX 

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