34, and became the means of
finally introducing Christianity into his kingdom. Soon after he became
king, Oswald sent to Iona for help, and in reply came a monk, who, for
some reason, said by old writers to be his harshness, failed in his
mission. He was replaced by another monk named Aidan (635-651), who was
eminently successful. Beda speaks of him as "a man of great piety and
zeal, combined with tender charity and gentleness." Aidan became
intimately associated with King Oswald, the two working together, and he
chose for his headquarters the small sandy island of Lindisfarne, off
the Northumbrian coast, which we now know as "Holy Island."

Lindisfarne thus resembled Iona, and it is probable that the similarity
of position and surroundings influenced Aidan in his choice. However
that may be, Aidan there founded his monastery and directed the work of
his monks.

Passing over a short period, we find at Lindisfarne a monk who is so
intimately connected with this cathedral that he demands special
attention--the great S. Cuthbert, sixth bishop of Lindisfarne, and the
patron saint of Durham. Little is known of his birth and parentage. Some
writers give him a Scotch origin, others Irish,[1] and others again say
he was born of humble parents on the banks of the Tweed. The latter is
most probable. Certain it is that at an early age he was left an orphan,
and was employed as an under-shepherd near to Melrose. From his earliest
youth he was thoughtful and pious, and watched and imitated in his mode
of life the monks of Melrose. There are numerous legends and stories of
S. Cuthbert's youth. He is said to have wrought many miracles, even to
the extent of stilling a tempest. One of these may be told here on
account of the share it played in his choice of monastic life:--On a
certain night in A.D. 651, while tending his sheep, his companions being
asleep, Cuthbert saw in the heavens a brilliant shaft of light, and
angels descending. These very shortly re-ascended, bearing among them "a
spirit of surpassing brightness." In the morning it was found that the
good S. Aidan was dead. The vision had a marked and lasting effect on
Cuthbert, and eventually resulted in his entering the monastery at
Melrose. For ten years Cuthbert led a holy and studious life at Melrose,
under Prior Boisil, when he was chosen among others to proceed to the
newly-founded monastery at Ripon. His sojourn there was, however, short,
as owing to doctrinal differenc