Sunrise from Lindisfarne over the Farne Islands, St Cedd’s day, October 26th 2025. Photo by Gill Henwood.

October 26th is St. Cedd’s Day:

The little that is known about Saint Cedd comes to us mainly from the writing of Saint Bede in his Ecclesiastical History Of The English People.
Cedd was born in the kingdom of Northumbria and brought up on the island of Lindisfarne by Saint Aidan. He was one of four brothers: Chad (originally Ceadda), Cynibil and Caelin being his siblings. The first datable reference to Cedd by Bede makes clear that he was a priest by the year 653. It is likely that Cedd was oldest of the brothers and was acknowledged the head of the family. While he was alive, he seems to have taken the lead, while Chad was his chosen successor.
Cedd was sent out from Lindisfarne to take the Gospel to Essex, landing after a sea journey at Bradwell where, today, there is still a Chapel built on the foundation of Cedd’s monastery.
As well as this mission, Cedd also established a monastery at Lastingham in the Cleveland Hills. From here he established a mission in North Yorkshire. When he died of the Plague, his brother Chad took over. Today, at Lastingham, the crypt chapel is said to date back to Cedd’s time.

Learning of God from Island Saints.

I come to this Holy place
where, when the tide turns,
silence and conversation
meld into stillness.
God is here.
His sanctuary, enclosed by the sea,
welcomes those who are seeking after meaning.

What am I looking for, here on Lindisfarne,  
where the spirit of Aidan
gathered together those chosen by God,
on whom the Saint poured out his soul,
his faith, into their waiting hearts?

I sense and seek the company
of those who first prayed here
through the storms of the sea, the blowing of the winds
sweeping over the Headland Heugh,
in the strange light of pale day
and the fading shadows of eventide.
In silence and in prayer; through learning and in listening;
by becoming steeped in God’s word;
twelve young monks, were inspired to mission the good,
Gospel news, of Jesus Christ.

Cedd and Chad, Cynibil, Caelin and companions
allowed Jesus to be etched upon their hearts,
discovering a love which must be shared.
How else would others inhale God’s blessing
and love in their own lives
and cause a world’s darkness to be bathed and transformed
by the dazzling  light of God’s Spirit?

And I, kneeling somewhere between the waves and shore
of my inner being, must hear anew this call
to open the Gospel pages illuminated by God within my soul,
that through me also
God may mission to others His amazing and saving Love.

Mr. G.
St Cedd’s Day 2025.

Dawn over Lindisfarne, taken from Bamburgh by Gill Henwood. St Cedd’ s Day 2025