Statue by Fenwick Lawson, bronze, c. 2000. Cuthbert was the most famous abbot of Lindisfarne. He was born the year Aidan came to Lindisfarne in 635, began monastic career at Melrose Abbey after he had a visionary experience of light coming to earth and leaving again on the night of Aidan’s death in 652. After becoming abbot on Lindisfarne, he became a hermit on nearby Farne island, later bishop. He was first conservationist in Britain, enacting laws to protect the sea birds on the island.
