St Aidan

d. 651 AD

St Aidan was an Irish monk from the monastery of Iona, who served as Bishop of Lindisfarne in the reign of King Oswald. Under Oswald's patronage, Aidan founded a monastery at Lindisfarne in 635, and Aidan was largely responsible for the spread of Celtic Christianity throughout Northumbria in the 7th century. When King Oswald died in 642 his son Oswin continued royal patronage of Aidan's work. Oswin was murdered in 651, and Aidan died only a few days later. His feast day is traditionally the 31 August.

Time period(s): Saxon

Tags: St Aidan   Lindisfarne   Oswald   Oswin   Iona