By the early 7th century Christianity, which had been propagated throughout England by the Roman Empire, was being largely displaced by Anglo-Saxon paganism. However things began to change when Oswald of Northumbria, a noble youth who had been raised in the Scottish kingdom of Dál Riata in northern Britain, found faith. The young king vowed to bring Christianity back to his people.
After returning from exile in Scotland, the Christian Oswald met his rival, Caedwalla at the Battle of Hevenfelt in 634. Before the battle he set up a wooden cross around which he invited his troops to pray before the combat. In the battle that followed, Caedwalla's army were routed despite their superior numbers; and Oswald seized the Kingdom of Northumbria in North England. As King of Northumbria he promoted Celtic Christianity.
King Oswald asked the monastery at Iona to send a missionary to help him spread the faith the mainly pagan people of Northumbria. They sent an Irish monk called Aidan and he made his base on the island of Lindisfarne. Aidan was appointed a bishop in 635.
Aidan engaged in widespread evangelism from his base with the active help of King Oswald, who acted as interpreter for the non-English speaking monk.
An early convert was Cynegils, the King of the West Saxons, who recognized Oswald as his overlord. He was baptized with the Northumbrian king as his godfather.
When Oswald died in 642, Aidan received continued support from King Oswine of Deira and the two became close friends. The monk's ministry continued relatively unchanged until the rise of pagan hostilities in 651
In 651 the pagan King of Mercia was laying siege to Bamburgh, the site of the Northumbrian royal castle. The town was set on fire and the flames were heading towards the king's castle. Aidan prayed for the deliverance of the town and the wind changed direction sending the flames back to the besiegers.
The same year Aidan became ill while on one of his never-ending missionary tours. He died on August 31, 651 leaning against the wall of the local church (now St Aidan's Church, Bamburgh).
Aidan is recognized as a saint by the Eastern Orthodox, Catholic and the Anglican churches. His feast is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, August 31st.
After returning from exile in Scotland, the Christian Oswald met his rival, Caedwalla at the Battle of Hevenfelt in 634. Before the battle he set up a wooden cross around which he invited his troops to pray before the combat. In the battle that followed, Caedwalla's army were routed despite their superior numbers; and Oswald seized the Kingdom of Northumbria in North England. As King of Northumbria he promoted Celtic Christianity.
King Oswald asked the monastery at Iona to send a missionary to help him spread the faith the mainly pagan people of Northumbria. They sent an Irish monk called Aidan and he made his base on the island of Lindisfarne. Aidan was appointed a bishop in 635.
Aidan engaged in widespread evangelism from his base with the active help of King Oswald, who acted as interpreter for the non-English speaking monk.
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| By Andreas Meinrad von Au - Self-photographed, Public Domain, |
An early convert was Cynegils, the King of the West Saxons, who recognized Oswald as his overlord. He was baptized with the Northumbrian king as his godfather.
When Oswald died in 642, Aidan received continued support from King Oswine of Deira and the two became close friends. The monk's ministry continued relatively unchanged until the rise of pagan hostilities in 651
In 651 the pagan King of Mercia was laying siege to Bamburgh, the site of the Northumbrian royal castle. The town was set on fire and the flames were heading towards the king's castle. Aidan prayed for the deliverance of the town and the wind changed direction sending the flames back to the besiegers.
The same year Aidan became ill while on one of his never-ending missionary tours. He died on August 31, 651 leaning against the wall of the local church (now St Aidan's Church, Bamburgh).
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| St Aidan Monastic Chapel 1920, Holy Cross Monastery, West Park, New York. By Randy OHC |
Aidan is recognized as a saint by the Eastern Orthodox, Catholic and the Anglican churches. His feast is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, August 31st.
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