ST. AIDAN

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 288, 9 November 1925, Page 2

ST. AIDAN

A contributor writes to the Parish Magazine:— “The parishioners of All Saints’, Palmerston North, have every reason to be proud of their Church, and among the many ardent workers responsible for its erection none stood out more prominently than the late Mr Morrali, who, in season and out of season, used his best endeavours to bring the matter to a successful issue. Consequently it was only fitting that his memory should be perpetuated by placing 'a stained glass window in the chapel in his honour. The window contains a representation of St. Aidan, one of the pioneer missionaries and church builders in England. The story of St. Aidan takes us along way back in the history of Christianity. At that time there were seven kings in England, and one of these, Oswald, King of Northumbria, had been forced to leave his country and take refuge with the monks on the island of lona. There he became converted to Christianity and when he' regained his kingdom one of his first acts was to request the monks of lona to send missionaries to Northumbria to teach hiss übjects the blesed truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The monks decided to send Aidan and ordained him a bishop. On reaching Northumbria, Aidan decided to have his headquarters, not at York, the capital city, but on the little island of Lindisfarne (since named Holy Island) near the coast of Northumberland. Here King Oswald built him a church and a monastery settlement was soon formed. From his headquarters, Aidan made excursions all over Northumbria, travelling mostly on foot. He was accompanied by the king, who acted as interpreter, Aidan himself being unable to speak the Saxon language. His gentle and atractive manner won the affection and esteem of the Northumbrians, and the cause* of Christianity soon began to prevail over the heathenish customs then prevalent in north-western Europe. Soon churches, schools and monasteries arose throughout the land, and Christianity was firmly planted in Nrthumbria. As the church grew, more relpers were required, and to meet the demand Aidan selected twelve English boys who were specially taught and trained to become clergymen at the monastery of Lindisfarne, giving them as much of his own teaching and supervision ns his duties permitted. tS. Aidan died on August 31st, 651 A.D. It may be interesting to know something about these oldtime Saints, but it is more important that we should learn some lessons from their lives. Perhaps the most outstanding factor in St. Aidan’s success in his work was the power of example. The Venerable Bede says the people joyfully flocked to hear Aidan preach for “he lived among his friends none otherwise than he taught.” They say that he cared not at all about worldly things and never sought his own comfort.