Lindisfarne, or Holy Island - Literature review Example

Insert Introduction The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, also simply called the Holy Island and constituting the Civil Parish ofHoly Island in Northumberland, is a tidal island found off the north-east coast of England, close to the border with Scotland. It measures 2.25 miles from East to West and 1.5 miles from North to South. Located about two miles from England’s mainland, the island is about 1,000 acres in size at a high tide. The island is surrounded by an 8,750 acre Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve. This nature reserve protects the island’s sand dunes and proximal intertidal environments (Sullivan and Robert, 220). In addition, the island, which as at the 27th March 2011 had a population of 180, is accessible most of the time by crossing the mud and sand flats (which form the old pilgrim’s path) at low tides. Recently there is a modern causeway that offers access to the Holy Island. The causeway is generally opened 3 hours from the time after a high tide and closed approximately two hours before the next tide. However these intervals are highly dependent on weather conditions such as storms. The island is characterized by warning signs which advise visitors on the paths to keep, to be mindful of the tide times and prevailing weather while also seeking advice when in doubt. Tide tables are also predominantly displayed for drivers at both ends of the causeway and at Beal, the point where the Holy Island road leaves the A1 Great North Road. These tables which indicate safe crossing periods are published by the Northumberland County Council. There are safety measures installed around and close to the island (for example in cases where drivers get stranded) with HM Coastguard, Sea houses Royal National Lifeboat, Institution Lifeboat or RAF helicopters available. A sea rescue is approximately 1,900 pounds while an air rescue can cost up to 4,000 pounds (Sullivan and Robert, 345). The island has two lighthouses, the Guile Point East and the Heugh Hill, both operated by the Trinity House. These lighthouses, constructed in 1859 serve to guide vessels entering the Holy Island Harbor. The Guile Point East is a stone obelisk standing constructed on a sandy spit on the south side of the entrance to the harbor acting as a day mark. A light is fitted to it at about one-third on the way up. The Heugh Hill on the other hand is a metal framework with a red triangular day mark. At Emmanuel Head, in the northeastern point of Lindisfarne, a white brick pyramid about 35 feet high stands. Built in 1810, this pyramid is an essential day mark for maritime navigation (Magnusson, 377). Owing perhaps to the island’s reputation for medicinal herbs, the island of Lindisfarne appears under the old Welsh name Medcaut in the 9th Century Historia Brittanum. The Parker Chronicle and the Peterborough Chronicle annals of AD 793 both record the old English name, Lindisfarena. By the 11th Century, the island was commonly referred to as the Holy Island in reference to saints Aidan and Cuthbert. Hence the name appears in Latin as Insula sacra. The origin of the name Lindisfarne is however unclear, with many speculations rife. The first part ‘Lindis’ may have been used in reference to the frequent visitors and settlers from the Kingdom of Lindsey (presently Lincolnshire). Others claim the name ‘Lindis’ may have a Celtic origin denoting steam or pool, presumably in reference to the nearby river Low or a small lake on the island. The second part of the name may have originated from Farran meaning ‘land’ or from Faran meaning ‘a traveller’. It is also thought to be a result of the presence of the nearby Farne Islands which appear fern-like in shape. History, Present State and Significance The Irish monk, Saint Aidan, upon the request of King Oswald was sent to Northumbria from Iona (off the West coast of Scotland) where he founded the monastery of Lindisfarne before the end of 634. He stayed here till he died in 651 with the priory rising to become the only seat of a bishopric in the Northumbria for almost three decades. Finian, who was Bishop from 651 to 661, built a timber church for the bishop’s seat but St. Bade did not like the idea that the church was built from reeds and not stone. Bishop Eadbert, at his time, removed the thatch and covered both walls and roof in lead. Custom had it that an abbot (leader of the community who could later become bishop) was elected by the brethren. This was the story of Northumbrian patrol monk, Saint Cuthbert. He first started as a monk, went on and became an abbot of the monastery and then finally the bishop of Lindisfarne. His life and miracles are recorded in the Venerable Bede. An anonymous life of Cuthbert written at Lindisfarne between 685 and 704 is the oldest extant piece of English historical writing. Upon his death, St. Cuthbert was buried in the island but his remains were later transferred to Durham Cathedral. A later bishop and saint, Eadberht of Lindisfarne, was later buried at the exact site from which Cuthbert’s remains were exhumed (Magnusson, 418). Until the despoliation by Henry VIII’s commission in 1539/ 1540, St. Cuthbert’s shrine remained a major pilgrimage center for much of the region. The grave was however preserved and upon its opening in 1827, it revealed a number of amazing artifacts dating back to Lindisfarne. The inner of the three coffins was incised wood with an image of Jesus surrounded by 4 evangelists. This marks the only decorated wood that ever survived from the age. Inside the coffin was a 6.4 garden pectoral cross mounted with garnets and intricate tracery. In addition, there was a comb made of rare and expensive elephant ivory and embossed silver covered travelling altar. But most remarkable of the findings was a manuscript later titled the St. Cuthbert Gospel or Stonyhurst Gospel in an early binding beautifully decorated with embossed leather (Backhouse, 150). The Lindesfarne Gospels are composed of illustrated Latin copies of the Gospels of Mark, Mathew, Luke and John. It is speculated that the composing artist was Eadfrith who later became bishop of Lindisfarne. A monk called Aldred, at around the second half of the 10th century, included an Anglo-Saxon gloss to the Latin text yielding the earliest surviving old English copies of the Gospels. It is Aldred who attributed the original to Eadfrith. In addition, Aldred says Ethelwald was responsible for pressing and binding it which he then followed through by covering it with a fine metal case made of hermit Billfrith. Presently, much to the disgruntlement of most Northumbrians, the Lindisfarne Gospels are preserved in the British Library in London (Backhouse, 180). Under saints Aidan, Cuthbert, Eadfrith and Eadberth, the Holy Island was an important center of Celtic Christianity. But significant liturgical and theological differences arose with the fledging Roman party in Canterbury following the death of Finian and the rise of Colman as bishop of Lindisfarne, but in 663, the Synod of Whitby changed this and loyalty shifted south to the Canterbury and hence to Rome. Lindisfarne lost much of its importance in the consequent years and Bishop Colman departed his holy see for Iona. The northern ecclesiastical province of England was established in 735 with the archbishop at York. There were only three bishops at York and these included Hexham, Lindisfarne and Whithorn. Canterbury on the other hand, as envisaged by St. Augustine had 12 bishops. The diocese of Lindisfarne under the new set-up comprised Cumbria, northern Northumbria, Lothian and much of the kingdom of Strathclyde. While Whithorn covered most of Dumfries, and the Galloway region west of Dumfries, Hexham on the other hand comprised the County Durham and the southern part of Northumberland up to the River Coquet and eastwards into Pennines (Magnusson, 411). On June 8th 793, Vikings, aided by favorable sailing weather, raided Lindisfarne. Never before had such terror befallen Britain. The Vikings who practiced heathen beliefs poured out the blood of saints around the altars and trampled on the bodies of saints in the temples of God. The monks of Lindisfarne fled the area in 875 following the collapse of the Northumbrian kingdom. They took with them St. Cuthbert’s bones which were later buried at Durham’s Cathdral (Graham, 312). The priory was later restored as a Benedictine house in 1093 and continued till its suppression in 1536 under Henry VIII. During the Wars of the Roses, Margaret of Anjou, in 1462 failed in her attempts to conquer Northumbrian castle as 400 troops trapped in a storm in sea had to surrender to the Yorkists and seek safe shelter on the island. Currently, the monastery, under the care of the English Heritage, is within an area of outstanding natural beauty on the Northumberland coast. The English Heritage also runs a museum and visitor center around the premises. The neighboring parish church is still used to date. In addition, there is the Lindisfarne castle that was styled by Sir Edwin Lutyens for the editor of County Life, Edward Hudson at fort Tudor. The island’s Celtic-cross-war-memorial on the Heugh was also a work of Lutyens. Getrude Jekyll, one of the most honored gardeners in recent times, in 1911 planted a beautiful garden just north of the Lindisfarne castle. The castle, garden and limestone kilns are all maintained by the National Trust. Other achieved painters such as Turner, Thomas Girtin and Charles Rennie Mackintosh painted on the Holy Island. The people living in and around the Lindisfarne are predominantly fishermen, farmers, with others producing lime for economic purposes. The island is known for mead which up to date has its recipe known only by the family which produces it. The island of Lindisfarne has emerged over the years to become a major tourist attraction site. Most of the day visitors, however, usually leave before the rising of the tides but those who stay on while the island is cut off by tides usually experience the island in a much quieter state. In addition, the surrounding Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve attracts bird watchers to the island with an array of bird varieties. Aspects of the history and legends concerning Lindisfarne have featured in a plethora of music and movies. Some movies have also been shot on location, for example, the second season finale of the television series Cold Feet was filmed in Lindisfarne Castle. In 1972, poet William Irwin Thompson named his association, the Lindisfarne Association, after the monastery on the island. Sir Walter Scott in one of his classic poetry describes the path from the island to the mainland which floods twice a day by tides (Graham, 413). Works Cited Backhouse, Janet. The Lindisfarne Gospels. Oxford: Phaidon in association with the British Library, 1981: 150, 180. Print. Graham, Frank. Lindisfarne, or Holy Island. 3rd ed. Newcastle upon Tyne [England: Harold Hill and Son, 1961:413, 312. Print. Magnusson, Magnus. Lindisfarne, the cradle island. Stocksfield, Northumberland, England: Oriel Press, 1984: 377, 418, 411. Print. Sullivan, Deirdre, and Robert Young. Book of Lindisfarne: Holy Island. London: B.T. Batsford :, 1995: 220, 345. Print. Read More