We’d like to thank everyone who used a cardboard loom, wool and recycled fabric to make a section. It has made a beautiful background to tell of Saint Aidan going into heaven surrounded by angels, watched by Saint Cuthbert. See if you can spot Cuthbert and his sheep, Aidan and the angels, and perhaps your own contribution!
The story of Cuthbert witnessing this in a vision comes from Saint Bede, who, like Saint Cuthbert, is buried in Durham Cathedral. Their stories are an important part of the history of the cathedral, and of Christianity in the North East of England. Here’s what Bede wrote:
Quote from Bede, Life of Cuthbert, Chapter 4
Cuthbert, at the time, happened to be looking after a flock of sheep committed to his charge, away up in the hills. One night when his companions had gone to sleep and he was keeping watch and praying as usual, he suddenly saw light streaming from the skies, breaking the long night’s darkness, and the choirs of heavenly host coming down to earth. They quickly took into their ranks a human soul, marvellously bright, and returned to their home above. The youth was moved by this vision to give himself to spiritual discipline in order to gain eternal happiness with the might men of God. There and then he set about thanking God and exhorting his companions in a brotherly way to praise him. […] Next day he was told that Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, a man of outstanding holiness, had passed into the Kingdom of Heaven at the time of the vision. He delivered the sheep back to their owners and decided to enter a monastery.”
Bede, Life of Cuthbert, Chapter 4
This was the moment that saw Cuthbert take the next step in his journey of faith. That commitment set his path towards a life of prayer and leadership, and his example is recognised every day in Durham Cathedral over 1300 years later.
In February half term, over 350 people visited the cathedral and joined in making sections of the night sky. The display is now complete and hanging in the Learning Centre, where it is a fantastic resource for school learning activities.
Although the Learning Centre is not generally open to the public, free drop-in summer activities will take place in there every weekday 11am-3pm from 21 July to 29 August. Please pop in to see the artwork, and join us to learn more about Magna Carta and the North by creating a seal for your own family charter.