Cuthbert

Cuthbert, St. (635-687), was born in Northumbria and educated at the ancient monastery of Melrose. The first Abbot of Melrose, Eata, came to Ripon and Cuthbert accompanied him. A difference with the English ecclesiastics as to the time of keeping Easter caused both to return to Melrose, where Cuthbert became prior. Eata was afterwards summoned to Lindisfarne and again Cuthbert went with him as prior. But Cuthbert longed for solitude and retired to Fame Island, whence he was summoned in 685 to the bishopric of Lindisfarne. In 687 he again retired to Fame, where he died. When the Danes made their inroads St. Cuthbert's relics were removed and finally lodged in Durham cathedral. He was to the north what St. Thomas of Canterbury was to the south, and his banner - said to have been used by him as an altar cloth - was thought to bring victory. It was carried at the battle of Neville's Cross and at Flodden Field, its last appearance being in the Pilgrimage of Grace. A life of the saint by the Venerable Bede describes him as travelling about the country under his charge preaching and teaching his people.