LESTtNGHAM. 437 



altar, resembling the tribune of the Roman basilic. 

 It was here that Cedd, bishop of the east Saxons, 

 or London, founded a monastery for benedictines ; 

 about the year 648, or as some suppose 655. The 

 church at Lestingiiam was the first which was built 

 in this district, or at least the first of which we 

 have any account. It was constructed of wood, and 

 it was not till many years after that a stone one was 

 erected upon the site of the original fabric. 



The occasion of the erection of a church or mon- 

 astery here was this : Oswald, king of Northum- 

 berland, being converted to the Christian faith, and 

 being desirous of having his people instructed 

 in it, sent for missionaries from Scotland for that 

 purpose. The first that came over was discouraged, 

 and returned to his brethren, to their monastery in 

 the island of lona, founded by the celebrated Col- 

 umba, and expressed his discouragement. After 

 this Aidan was sent, in the character of bishop of 

 Northumbria. lie laboured with great diligence 

 and success, under the patronage of Oswald ; who 

 was so anxious to have his people instructed in the 

 true religion, that until Aidan had learned the lan- 

 guage of the country, he acted as his interpreter ; 

 a task for which he was qualified, having been long 

 in Scotland. Being thus encouraged, Aidan invi- 

 ted several of his countrymen to assist him in the 

 work ; and chose a small island called Lindisfarne, 

 now Holy Island, not far from Bainburgh, the capi- 

 tal of Bernicia : thence they issued forth throughout 

 the dominions of Oswald, preaching the word of 

 God with great zeal ; whose blessing attended them ' 



