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First Steps of the English
in Civilization
Aidan's chief foundation was that of Lindisf arne, which
was to radiate light and healing in the North for generations
and eventually to develop into the sees of Durham
and Northumberland, and even, tho less directly, into
the archbishopric of York. After Lindisfarne he and his
missionary countrymen founded Mailros, or Melrose,
and Whitby, then known as Streaneshalch. On the isle
of Fame he established a hermitage to which he himself
was wont to retire later it became the favorite retreat
of St. Cuthbert; and he founded the double monastery
of Coldingham, the Urbs Coludi of Bede, which, like Ely
and Barking, was modeled on the establishment of Kil-
dare, whose patron was the illustrious Brigid, "Mary of
the Gael." In this last foundation Aidan was associated
with Aebba, sister of King Oswald, whose name is still
enshrined in St. Abb's Head near by. Over Melrose as
abbot, Aidan put Boisel, an English youth whom he had
ransomed from slavery, master of Sigf rid, who was master
of Bede.
Lindisfarne in course of time gathered to itself sub-
sidiary houses or cells, among them St. Balthere's at
Tynningham, Craike, Cunceceastre, or Chester-le-Street,
Norham and Gainford. The see also came into possession
of large lands in York.
The place Lindisfarne held in the veneration of the
the emotion of Alcuin on the
English is indicated by
occasion of its pillaging by the Danes : (793) "The most
venerable place in Britain, where Christianity first took
root among us after Paulinus went away from York, is a
prey to heathen men. Who thinks of this calamity and
does not cry out to God to spare his country has a heart
of stone and not of flesh." 1
i Migne., Pat. Lat, C.
221