The life of Saint Cuthbert

St Cuthbert (c. 634–687) was an Anglo-Saxon monk, bishop, and hermit who became one of northern England’s most revered saints. After experiencing a religious vision as a young man, he entered the monastery at Melrose. He later served at Lindisfarne, where he helped introduce Roman Christian customs while earning admiration for his humility, preaching, healing, and care for the poor.

Seeking solitude, Cuthbert eventually lived as a hermit on the Farne Islands. In 685, he reluctantly became Bishop of Lindisfarne but returned to his hermitage shortly before his death in 687. His remains were later carried across northern England by monks fleeing Viking raids and were eventually placed at Durham Cathedral. His feast day is celebrated on 20 March, and he is especially associated with Northumbria and the protection of wildlife.