Bells Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Durham | Page 4

the chapter library at
Durham.
Over a century and a half after these events the coast of Northumbria
was disturbed and troubled by the piratical invasions of the Danes. The
number and violence of these incursions so increased that the whole
country lay practically at their mercy. Becoming alarmed for their own
safety and that of their holy relics, the monks of Lindisfarne fled,
taking with them the body of their saint, and all their sacred vessels and
books. This occurred in A.D. 875.
Here commenced that long wandering which eventually ended in the
founding of the Cathedral Church of Durham, where the bones of S.
Cuthbert found their final resting-place.
Bishop Eardulph and his monks, with their sacred charge, travelled for
seven years, over a great portion of the north of England and part of the
south of Scotland. Many churches dedicated to S. Cuthbert in the north
are thought to mark their resting-places. From a list of these given by
Prior Wessington the probable route of the wanderers can be
approximately, made out as follows:--First to Elsdon and down the
Rede to Haydon Bridge. Up the South Tyne to Beltinghame, and then

following the route of the Roman Wall to Bewcastle. Turning south to
Salkeld, and thence by Eden Hall and Plumbland into Lancashire,
towards the river Derwent. Here they came to a determination to cross
to Ireland, and took ship from the mouth of the Derwent. Very soon a
violent storm arose, the vessel became unmanageable and was nearly
filled with water, which, according to Symeon, immediately turned into
blood. A return was inevitable. It was during this attempt that the
famous copy of the Gospels, known as the Durham Book, was washed
overboard into the sea. This book is, perhaps, the most beautiful
example of Anglo-Saxon writing and illumination extant, and is
surpassed only by the celebrated Irish MS., the Book of Kells. It was
shortly afterwards found on the coast in a comparatively uninjured
condition; and is now preserved in the British Museum. The wandering
monks next turned northwards as far as Witherne, on the Galloway
coast, and then returned to England, through Westmoreland and across
Stainmoor into Teesdale, staying for a time at a village, which no doubt
owes it present name Cotherstone to this circumstance. Leaving here
and crossing the hills, through Marske, Forcett and Barton, they arrived
at the abbey of Craike, near Easingwold, where they were kindly
treated by the abbot, and remained about four months. On resuming
their journey the monks removed the body of S. Cuthbert to
Cuncachester, or, as we now know it, Chester-le-Street, a former
Roman camp. Here the fraternity remained for a hundred and thirteen
years; and here was the seat of the Bishopric of Bernicia until A.D. 995.
Many are the legends clustering round these journeyings. How, when
leaving Lindisfarne, the sea opened a passage for them, and how in
more than one difficulty the dead saint himself gave them assistance.
Notably, on one occasion when the bearers were worn out and weary he
appeared and showed them where they would find a horse and car in
which to carry their burden. This horse and car were afterwards used on
their journeys.
In the year 995, again for safety, they removed once more under Bishop
Aldhun, first for a short time to Ripon, and then finally to Durham. It is
of this last journey the following story is told:--
"Coming with him" (v. Sanderson), "on the East Side of Durham, to a

Place call'd Wardenlawe, they could not with all their Force remove his
body further, for it seemed fastened to the Ground; which strange and
unforeseen Accident produced great Astonishment in the Hearts of the
Bishop, the Monks, and their Associates; whereupon they fasted and
prayed three Days with great Devotion, to know by Revelation from
God, what to do with the holy Body, which was soon granted to them,
it being revealed to Eadmer, a virtuous Man, that he should be carried
to Dunholme, where he was to be received to a Place of Rest. They
were again in great Distress, in not knowing where Dunholme lay; but
as they proceeded, a Woman wanting her Cow, called aloud to her
Companion, to know if she had seen her? Who answered, She was in
Dunholme. This was an happy and heavenly Sound to the distressed
Monks, who thereby had Intelligence that their Journey's End was at
Hand, and the Saint's Body near its Resting-place; thereupon with great
Joy they arrived with his Body at Dunholme, in the Year 997."
[Illustration: The Dun Cow.]
Arrived at Dunholm they raised a "little Church of Wands and
Branches" to protect the sacred relics until a building more worthy of
such a charge could be erected. This was the beginning