Site Map

Contact Fr. Gregory

© Copyright - material in this site may not be reproduced in any media without the express permission of the Web Master.

Care has been taken by this site to ensure that all necessary copyright permissions have been obtained. If this is not the case in any instance, this is an inadvertent error. Please contact the Web Master and this will be rectified.

Disclaimer & Credits

Lindisfarne Parish Pilgrimage 2000

The Priory and Church complex	Rainbow Arch in the ruins of the Priory	The Priory and Church complex
Causeway to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne	Lindisfarne Castle	A beach on Lindisfarne
The Pilgrim Group (1)	Inside St. Mary's Church	Relaxing at Margate House
St. Cuthbert's Isle	Statue of St. Aidan in the Priory Grounds	Lindisfarne Priory Ruins

New Lindisfarne Photo Album (thanks to Richard & Vicky Probyn) 

Reflections on the 2000 Pilgrimage
by Dwynwen East

When St. Aidan arrive in Northumbria in 635 AD, he chose the island of Lindisfarne as a place from which to preach the gospel, central to his missionary work throughout the north east.  His mission flourished, churches and monasteries were founded and children were sent there to be educated.  Four of these children were the brothers Cedd, Cynebil, Caelin and Chad.  All became priests and two, Saints Cedd and Chad were consecrated bishops.

Many people over the centuries have discovered the peace of Holy Island and it has become a popular place of pilgrimage.  Modern road networks cover the pilgrims' ancient paths and our journey today is fast and comfortable.   Focus is, therefore, concentrated more on the spiritual, prayerful stillness of the place rather than the physical endurance test of days gone by.  However, we are always mindful of Thomas Merton's words: "our real journey in life is interior," but now and again we are asked to "walk on water" to test our courage and our faith.

We, as pilgrims on our Parish 2000 Pilgrimage, found in the two days of our stay the peace and beauty of God shining through all our encounters together, from assembly and prayer to feasting and worship both in the grounds of the ruined Priory and the church of St. Mary.  Walking down the lanes in the stillness of a colourful sunset gave us the calm and peace we were expecting to find here.  The sunny service of Molieben for St. Aidan by his statue in the Priory and the Vesperal Liturgy in church inspired us to say: "How awesome is our God; how grand is our God."

We thank the people who have made this pilgrimage possible and look forward to more in the future.  Also we thank all who looked after us so well on Holy Island and who offered us hospitality.  We returned home with everlasting memories and thankfulness for God's blessings.