Aidan of Lindisfarne
The ‘little flame’ of England
The Dark Ages was one of the most misunderstood periods of British history. For two hundred years after the Romans left Britain in 410 AD, the country was plunged into what became known as the Dark Ages. The turmoil transformed the nation of Britain, but we know almost nothing about it.
Discoveries through archaeology are helping to transform our understanding of the Dark Ages. We are now beginning to understand how pivotal the fifth and sixth centuries were in creating the Church that we know today.
What was Dark Age Britain really like?
This is what we think we know. In 410, Britain suffered a cataclysm. After nearly four hundred years of rule, the aristocracy, troops, and bureaucrats simply upped and left.
‘Days as dark as night’ = ‘Dies tenebrosa sicut nox’ is a brilliant, evocative way of saying ‘welcome to the Dark Ages’.
The earliest and most accurate account of the life and ministry of (Saint) Aidan comes from the British historian Bede (672–735), who lived shortly after Aidan’s time.
In 633 AD, King Oswald of Northumbria desired to bring Christianity to his kingdom and requested the Iona monks in Scotland to bring Christianity to his people.
The first monk who was sent, Corman, met with little success. He returned to Iona and reported he could not minister to the people because they “were ungovernable and of an obstinate and barbarous temperament.”[1]
Not willing to give up, the monks of Iona had a conference to discuss what they should do next. Aidan was at the conference and issued these comments to the failed missionary monk, “Brother, it seems to me that you were too severe on your ignorant hearers. You should have followed the practice of the Apostles, and begun by giving them the milk of simpler teaching, and gradually nourished them with the word of God until they were capable of greater perfection and able to follow the loftier precepts of Christ.”[2]
This observation by St. Aidan convinced all in attendance that he was the man to continue the failed missionary work in Northumbria. It was unanimously decided that Aidan would be sent out from Iona to establish Christianity in the North of England.
Aidan was consecrated as a bishop and arrived in Northumbria around AD 635, accompanied by 12 other monks. King Oswald gave him the small island of Lindisfarne (also known as Holy Island) as a home base to establish his monastic work. Aidan established the monastery on the Island of Lindisfarne that eventually became an epicentre for spirituality and mission for the North of England.
What made Aidan’s Lindisfarne such a successful missionary hub?
I believe that it was due to its leader St. Aidan's missional spirituality, a humble man of God, with a deep spirituality that included a life of prayer, reading the Scriptures, and proclaiming Christ in word and deed.
Aidan, whose name means ‘little flame,’ lit a fire that burned bright across the North of England. Bede described him as a “man of outstanding gentleness, holiness, and moderation” who was endowed with the “grace of discretion.”[3]
In addition to living a holy life, Aidan gave those he led “an inspiring example of self-discipline and continence”, never caring about worldly possessions, and always give his possessions away to the poor.[4]
Aidan refused to use the king’s horse but instead travelled on foot, reading the Scriptures and talking to everyone he met about God. He preached widely throughout Northumbria, working together with the King to evangelize the people. Since Aidan could not speak the people's language, the King even translated for him until he became proficient in English. Bede summarized Aidan’s life in the following words:
He cultivated peace and love, purity and humility; he was above anger and greed and desired pride and conceit; he set himself to keep as well as to teach the laws of God and was diligent in study and prayer.
He used his authority to check the proud and powerful.; he tenderly comforted the sick; he relieved and protected the poor.
Bede says “To sum up in brief what I have learned from those who knew him, he took pains never to neglect anything that he had learned from the writings of the evangelists, apostles, and prophets, and he set himself to carry them out with all his powers.”[5]
Prayer of St. Aidan
Leave me alone with God as much as may be.
As the tide draws the waters close in upon the shore,
Make me an island, set apart,
Alone with you, God, holy to you.
Then with the turning of the tide.
Prepare me to carry your presence to the busy world beyond,
The world that rushes in on me,
Till the waters come again and fold me back to you.
[1] Bede, A History of the English Church and People, (London: Penguin Classics, 1968) 149.
[2] Ibid. 149.
[3] Ibid, 144 and 149.
[4] Ibid, 148.
[5] Ibid, 169.
