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OSWALD'S CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE. 29
heathendom. It had, indeed, a remarkable Iiistory.
The church which Columba founded on that small
island was no isolated one.
It was an offshoot from
that great Church of Ireland which sent missionaries
all over Europe, and which at that period was not
only a great centre of Christianity, but was a home
of civilisation and of art.
" After Columba's death,
the monastery of lona appears to have been the
acknowledged head of all the monasteries and
churches which his mission had established in Scotland,
as well as of those previously founded by him
in Ireland. To use the words of Bede—
' This
monastery for a long time held the pre-eminence
over most of those of the northern Scots, and all
those of the Picts, and had the direction of their
people,'— a position to which it was entitled, as the
mother-church, from its possession of the body of the
patron saint." 1
Oswald's request that the community of lona would
send him some duly authorised person to evangelise
his people was acceded to. The first who was sent was
Corman, but he soon returned, complaining that his
teaching had been utterly disregarded by the stubborn
and impracticable people amongst whom he had been
bidden to minister. The community were deeply
grieved at Gorman's report, and held a council to
consider what had best be done. A holy man named
Aidan was present. He uttered a few short and
simple words, but they made a deep impression upon
all. " My brother," said he, " thou hast been too
Skene's "Celtic Scotland," ii. p. 148.