St Colman of Lindisfarne

Bishop. Born in Ireland, Colman became a monk at Iona and succeeded St Fintan as bishop of Lindisfarne. Bede gives a glowing account of Lindisfarne under Colman's rule, which took place from 661- 664. He emphasised the example of frugality and simplicity of living set by the bishop, and the complete devotion of the clergy to the work of preaching the Gospel and ministering to their people.

During the disagreement in Northumbria about the date of Easter, Colman upheld the Celtic customs while Wilfrid supported Rome. King Oswy accepted Wilfrid's arguments and Colman resigned his bishopric and retired. He went first to Iona and then to Inishbofin Island, off the Connacht coast. All his Irish monks and 30 of the English ones went with him, but there were differences between the two groups.

Eventually Colman made a separate foundation for the English monks at Mayo (which was called the 'Mayo of the Saxons') while Colman remained on Inishbofin with the Irish monks.

Bede praised Mayo for living under a Rule, and an elected abbot. The first abbot after Colman was an Englishman, St Gerald. St Colman died in 676.