St Cuthbert’s Day is marked on Holy Island

Lowick and Holy Island schoolchildren and villagers with the St Cuthbert's cross drawn in the sand. Picture by Jane Coltman

Lowick schoolchildren joined their Holy Island classmates for a service with islanders on the beach near Jenny Nells’ Well, looking out over St Cuthbert’s Island.

They heard the story of St Cuthbert’s early life, took part in prayers and sang before making the pilgrimage along the beach to see a St Cuthbert’s cross which had been drawn on the sand by Mary Fleeson, artist for the Lindisfarne Scriptorium.

Mary Fleeson, artist for the Lindisfarne Scriptorium, draws the cross.
Picture by Jane Coltman — Mary Fleeson, artist for the Lindisfarne Scriptorium, draws the cross. Picture by Jane Coltman

Pupils then placed pebbles and shells on the cross, learnt more about St Cuthbert then walked to the lifeboat house. Refreshments were then enjoyed in St Mary’s Church.

The service was led by Rev Canon Dr Sarah Hills, vicar of St Mary’s, and Rev Rachel Poolman, minister of St Cuthbert’s Centre.

St Cuthbert, one of England’s greatest saints, was consecrated Bishop of Lindisfarne in AD685. Cuthbert retired to his hermitage on the Inner Farne, where he died on March 20, 687.