A search for the ruins of a monastery on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne will be launched in June.
The priory ruins on the island date from the early 12th century but the original monastery was founded in 635. Archaeologists are now launching a crowdfunded excavation to find the original ruins.
The first monastery was founded by the Irish monk St Aidan in AD 635 but was sacked by the Vikings 160 years later.
David Petts, a lecturer at Durham University and an expert on the history of Lindisfarne, who will lead the excavation, told The Guardian: “Most of Aidan’s monastery probably lies under the modern village, and we’re not going to be able to knock that down – but we have had some encouraging geophysics results indicating structures under some areas of open ground which we will be able to get at.”
He added: “Surprisingly little is known about the early monastery, and very little has been found from it – mainly a few scraps of broken masonry with poor records of where exactly they were recovered.”
Reflecting on what they hoped to discover, Dr Petts said: “The monks led a simple lifestyle, and their buildings were probably timber, so we’re not looking for treasure. We might find evidence of buildings burned down and rebuilt, bones from the kitchen, traces of metalworking; even, if we are fantastically lucky, some writing implements.”
The money for the dig has been raised through a crowdfunding project known as Dig Ventures, set up by three archaeologists. Much of the labour will be done by members of the public who have to pay a fee of £525 a week in order to participate.
Grade I status for rescued church
A 19th-century church that was on the verge of closure 10 years ago has been listed as a Grade I building on the advice of the Historic England Trust (formerly English Heritage).
St Charles Borromeo Church in Hull, reputed for its dramatic and opulent interior, has been upgraded to Grade I status, meaning that it will now be recognised as a building of “exceptional interest” – a category that belongs to just 2.5 per cent of listed buildings in England.
Following the threat of closure in 2006, St Charles Borromeo launched an appeal to raise £100,000 to brush up and repaint the church, which had not been cleaned since 1952 and was suffering from mould and damp.
The building was inspired by the Italian Baroque and Austrian Rococo, while some of the decorative work was carried out by a local craftsman known as Heinrich Immenkamp.
The other Catholic place of worship to be upgraded to Grade I status is Ampleforth Abbey church, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, one of the most eminent architects of the 20th century.
Giles Gilbert Scott also designed Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Waterloo Bridge and Battersea power station.
Fr Terence Richardson, OSB, prior of Ampleforth Abbey, said: “The abbey church is at the centre of monastic life here at Ampleforth and we are delighted that the classic design by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott is now recognised as of national importance.”
Heritage minister David Evennett said: “These two churches are a wonderful example of the remarkable architecture Yorkshire has to offer. I am delighted that this upgrade will provide extra protection for these churches and also highlights Hull’s rich architecture as we look forward to the 2017 City of Culture celebrations.”
Freemasonry ‘in the hierarchy’
Auxiliary Bishop Athanasius Schneider of Astana, Kazakh-stan, has claimed that “a Masonic spirit” has infiltrated the Church hierarchy.
Speaking to the website onepeterfive.com during a visit to Britain, he said: “Some bishops and cardinals speak clearly with a Masonic spirit.” It was logical, he said, that Freemasons, over the centuries, would try to infiltrate the Church at all levels.
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