a small island lying on the coast of England, 10 miles south-east of Berwick, in Northumberland. Bede calls it a semi-island, being, as he observes, twice an island and twice continent in one day: for at the flowing of the tide, it is encompassed by water; and at the ebb, there is an almost dry passage, both for horses and carriages, to and from the main land; from which, if measured on a straight line, it is distant about two miles eastward; but on account of some quicksands passengers are obliged to make so many detours, that the length of way is nearly doubled. The water over these flats at spring-tides is only seven feet deep.—This island was by the Britons called Inis Medicant; also Lindisfarne, from the small rivulet of Lindi or Landi, which here runs into the sea, and the Celtic word fabren or "recefs;" and on account of its being the habitation of some of the first monks in this country, it afterwards obtained its present name of Holy-island. It measures from east to west about two miles and a quarter, and its breadth from north to south is scarcely a mile and a half. At the north-west part there runs out a spit of land of about a mile in length. The monastery is situated at the southermost extremity; and at a small distance north of it stands the village. On this island there is plenty of fish and fowl; but the air and soil are bad. There is not a tree on the island. The village, which stands on a rising ground, consists but of a few scattered houses, chiefly inhabited by fishermen; and it has two inns. The north and east coasts are formed of perpendicular rocks, the other sides sink by gradual slopes to the lands. There is a commodious harbour, defended by a block-house; which last was surprised and taken in 1715, but was soon invested and retaken.

Holy-island, though really part of Northumberland, belongs to Durham; and all civil disputes must be determined It was a very ancient episcopal seat. Ardan the first bishop, after presiding in it 14 years, died and was buried here A.D. 651. Finan, his successor, built a wooden church, thatched with reeds, but before the end of the century covered with lead by bishop Eadbert. St Cuthbert, who from a poor shepherd became monk of Melrosa 15 years, was prior here 12 more, when he retired to one of the barren Farn rocks, from whence he was called to this see, which he held only two years, and returned to his retirement, where he died, and was buried at the east end of his oratory, where his stone coffin is still shown. His body was found fresh 11 years after his death. Lindisfarne was ruined by the Danes, A.D. 793, when the monks carried his body about for seven years, and at last settled at Chester-le-Street, whither the see was translated, and where it continued many years. On a second destruction of the monastery by the Danes they were removing to Rippon, but flopped by a miracle at Durham, where the saint continued till the reformation, when his body was found entire, and privately buried in a wooden coffin, as some pretend, near the clock, but more probably in the ground under where his shrine stood.

The entrochii found among the rocks at Lindisfarne are called St Cuthbert's beads, and pretended to be made by him in the night. Eighteen bishops sat here till the removal of the see to Chester, which had eight Holy-Rood more till the removal to Durham, A.D. 995. Lindisfarne became a cell to that Benedictine monastery, valued at 48 l. per ann. The north and south walls of the church are standing, much inclined; part of the west end remains, but the east is down. The columns of the nave are of four different sorts, 12 feet high and 5 feet diameter, massy and richer than those of Durham; the bases and capitals plain, supporting circular arches. Over each arch are large windows in pairs, separated by a short column, and over these are smaller single windows. In the north and south walls are some pointed arches. The length of the body is 138 feet, breadth 18 feet, and with the two aisles 36 feet; but it may be doubted whether there ever was a transept. One arch of the centre tower remains adorned as is its entrance from the nave with Saxon zigzag. Somewhat to the east is the base of a cross, and to the west the present parish-church (a).