SAINT BARTHOLOMEW OF FARNE – 24th June
Monk & Hermit. Died 1193

Bartholomew was born at Whitby of Scandinavian parents and was originally called Tostig, but he changed it to William because as a boy his peers mocked him.  He spent a somewhat dissolute youth, but his life changed when he refused marriage and went to Norway where he became a priest.  In the late 1140´s he became a monk at Durham, taking the name Bartholomew, and as a novice he had a vision of Christ holding out his arms to him.  He left Durham and went to the island of the Inner Farne and stayed there as a hermit for the remaining 42 years of his life, apart for one or two short breaks.

The isolated hermit´s life was even more arduous than usual due to the exposed situation of Farne.  Bartholomew found it difficult to live with others and as a result the resident hermit left the island soon after Bartholomew´s arrival.  A dispute also arose with a new arrival, as they couldn´t agree on the quantity of food and length of their meals.  However they finally came to an agreement and lived together amicably.

The more attractive side of Bartholomew´s character showed in his cheerfulness, his love of fishing and his pet dog, and his generosity to his many visitors.  No respecter of status, he was quite liable to reprove notable visitors, who were so impressed by his presence that they often gave up oppression and changed to alms giving.

Bartholomew spent his days in prayer and work, walking the island, singing psalms as he went, milking his cows, tending his crops and reading and writing.  Eventually he developed a painful illness, but before his death he carved a stone sarcophagus for himself, which was perhaps identical to the one still there outside the chapel where he used to pray. Miracles were reported at his tomb but his cult seems to have been restricted to Durham and North East England.
Lynette Harris