Lindisfarne Priory

A tidal island just off the north-east coast of England, Lindisfarne is also known as Holy Island in recognition of its important religious heritage. Lindisfarne's first religious building was its monastery, which was founded by St Aidan in about 635AD. His successor was St Cuthbert, who became the head of the Priory as well as Northumberland's patron saint. Shortly after this time, the Lindisfarne Gospels - an illustrated copy of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - are believed to have been created here. In the next century these gospels were glossed with Old English at Lindisfarne, making them the oldest surviving Old English biblical texts - cementing Lindisfarne's position as an important religious centre.