Thousands converge on Holy Island to celebrate Lindisfarne Gospels

Thousands of Christians took part in an open-air service on Holy Island on Saturday to celebrate the continuing witness of the Lindisfarne Gospels.  

The service was held in the ruins of Lindisfarne Priory in celebration of the return of the Lindisfarne Gospels to the region.  

The exquisite medieval manuscript was created in Lindisfarne Priory in around 700AD and is still revered the world over today for its exceptional artistry and craftsmanship.  

A rare exhibition of the Lindisfarne Gospels is taking place in Durham throughout the summer.

The service on Saturday was the highlight of a one-day pilgrimage by members and leaders of at least six Christian denominations.  

A facsimile of the Lindisfarne Gospels was carried in procession through the priory during the service along with banner-sized reproducations of the title pages of the four Gospels of Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  

An address was given by the Reverend Ruth Gee, President of the Methodist Conference in Britain, and music was provided by the choirs of St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle, and Hexham Abbey, and the worship band of New Life Christian Centre, Morpeth.  

News
Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds
Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds

People who regularly attend church are more likely to report happy marriages, according to a new report examining the relationship between faith and family life.

Indian churches fearing anti-conversion laws tell non-Christians: enter at your own risk
Indian churches fearing anti-conversion laws tell non-Christians: enter at your own risk

Churches in Dhamtari, a town in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, have put up notices warning non-Christians that they enter at their own risk, weeks after a law against religious conversion came into force in the state.

£1k bursaries to help churches develop youth and community mentoring programmes
£1k bursaries to help churches develop youth and community mentoring programmes

Churches across the UK are being offered bursaries to help them establish mentoring programmes aimed at supporting young people and others in their communities.

World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary
World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has held an online celebration to mark its 180th anniversary. Hundreds of people from more than 22 countries attended, and the event was rebroadcast to accommodate different time zones.