Herbert of Derwentwater

Saint Herbert of Derwentwater (?- 20 March 687) was an Anglo-Saxon priest and hermit who lived on St. Herbert's Island, a small island in Derwentwater.

Biography

The life of St. Herbert is recorded in Book IV Chapter 29 of St. Bede's "Ecclesiastical History of the English People."[1]

His date of birth is unknown. He was for long the close friend and disciple of Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, at whose request he took up the life of an anchorite,[1] dwelling for many years on the little island still known as St Herbert's Island, in the lake of Derwentwater.[2] He ate fish from the lake and grew vegetables around his tiny cell.[3]

He visited Cuthbert in Lindisfarne every year for the purpose of receiving his direction in spiritual matters. In the year 686, hearing that his friend was visiting Carlisle for the purpose of giving the veil to Queen Eormenburg, he went to see him there, instead of at Lindisfarne as was usual. After they had spoken together, St. Cuthbert said, "Brother Herbert, tell to me now all that you have need to ask or speak, for never shall we see one another again in this world. For I know that the time of my decease is at hand." Then Herbert fell weeping at his feet and begged that St. Cuthbert would obtain for him the grace that they might both be admitted to praise God in heaven at the same time. And St. Cuthbert prayed and then made answer, "Rise, my brother, weep not, but rejoice that the mercy of God has granted our desire." And indeed Herbert, returning to his hermitage, fell ill of a long sickness, and, purified of his imperfections, passed to God on the very March 20, 687 on which St. Cuthbert died on Holy Island.[2]

Veneration

Cuthbert's feast was by far the more popular of the two and Herbert was largely forgotten although St. Herbert's Island is still named after him.

Each year the parish of Our Lady of the Lakes and St Charles arranges to celebrate Mass on St. Herbert's Island in his memory.[4] Since 1983 pilgrimages have been made from Chadderton to Cumbria, parishioners joining others from churches in the Lake District in crossing Derwentwater and concelebrating Mass on St. Herbert's Island.[1]

The remains of the hermitage are still visible.[4] It is said that the remains of St. Herbert's chapel and cell may still be traced at the northern end of the island on which he lived.

His feast day is 20 March.

Legacy

St. Herbert's, Chadderton is named in his honour.[1] Churches in Braithwaite and Carlisle are among the few dedicated to St. Herbert. Friars Crag viewpoint on Derwentwater is named after the monks who sailed over to St. Herbert's Island on pilgrimage to visit the saint.[3]

In literature

William Wordsworth wrote a well-known poem, For The Spot Where The Hermitage Stood on St Herbert's Island, Derwentwater, celebrating the spiritual friendship between St. Cuthbert and St. Herbert.

St Herbert appears under the name "Erebert" as a character in the mostly fictional book Credo about the life of St Bega, by Melvyn Bragg

St Herbert's Island was the inspiration for 'Owl Island' in Beatrix Potter's book The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Life of St. Herbert", St. Herbert's, Chadderton
  2. 1 2 Toke, Leslie. "St. Herbert of Derwentwater." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 16 May 2013
  3. 1 2 3 "Saint Herbert and his Island", Lake District National Park
  4. 1 2 Welch, Annette. "St. Herbert and his Island", Our Lady of the Lakes, Keswick

External links

Coordinates: 54°35′00″N 3°08′20″W / 54.58333°N 3.13875°W / 54.58333; -3.13875

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