Saint Bartholomew of Farne

Also known as: Bartholomew of Durham
Memorial: 24 June
Profile: Descendant of Scandanavian immigrants to England. Because of the teasing he endured as a child, he changed his name from Tostig to William. A dissolute youth, he eventually left home to wander in Europe, possibly to avoid settling down in an arranged marriage. He experienced a conversion experience along with way, and emigranted for a while to his ancestral Norway. Priest.

William returned to England, and entered the Benedictine monastery at Durham, taking the name Bartholomew. He had a great devotion to Saint Cuthbert, received a vision of him, and eventually moved into Cuthbert's old cell on the island of Farne, spending 41 of his remaining 42 years there. The only break came when a dispute with the only other hermit in the hermitage caused him to pack up and return to Durham; his bishop eventually ordered him to act like he had good sense, and return to his cell.
Born: 12th century at Whitby, Northumbria, England as Tostig
Died: 1193 at Farne
Additional Information: Catholic Online
For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein
John Hayward