About St. Aidan
Although the Romans were responsible for spreading Christianity to Britain, by the 7th Century Anglo-Saxon invasions had pushed it out of northern England to Scotland, Wales and Ireland. When Oswald became king of Northumbria in 635 AD, he vowed to restore Christianity to his kingdom and so asked the community of Iona (where he was raised) to send missionaries. They first sent Bishop Corman who soon returned to Iona complaining that the Northumbrians were savage and unteachable.
Their next candidate was Aidan who took a completely different approach. His generosity and genuine love for his fellow man showed the people how to lead a Christian life. Oswald gave him the island of Lindisfarne as his base.
Praying, fasting and meditating on the Gospels Aidan lived simply sharing what he had with those in need, educating the young, freeing slaves, founding churches and monasteries.
St Aidan died on 31st August 651 AD at Bamburgh and is the patron saint of firefighters.
Prayer to St. Aidan of Lindisfarne
Leave me alone with God as much as may be.
As the tide draws the waters close in upon the shore,
Make me an island, set apart, alone with you, God, holy to you.
Then with the turning of the tide
prepare me to carry your presence to the busy world beyond,
the world that rushes in on me
till the waters come again and fold me back to you.
History of the Church
The first Mass at the Parish of St Aidan, Winstanley was celebrated in the newly built school on 5 December 1971. It was Father Daniel Cadogan who realised that Winstanley and Highfield were growing rapidly, new houses being built and young couples moving in. He had the vision and foresight to realise that a new parish was needed, which would include a new school and a new church.
Meetings were held in various parishioners’ homes in the neighbourhood. A survey was carried out to find out how many Catholics were already in the area. Money had to be raised so lots of fund raisers were arranged, the future parishioners of St Aidan’s, worked hard to raise the money for the new school and church.
After two years of hard work, the new parish celebrated its first Mass on 5 December 1971 in the new school hall. Contributions of £2 per person were received to help buy chairs for the hall, and a carpet to protect the floor. Every Saturday evening the men of the parish would roll out the carpet and set up the school hall for Mass the following day. This went on until the church was actually finished in 1974.
On the 5th December 2021 we celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the inaugural Mass with Bishop Tom Neylon.
Clergy of St Aidan’s
Images
