was originally constructed of wood, and it was not till many years after
that a stone one was erected.

Cedd was a Saxon missionary, educated at the monastery of Lindisfarne,
now Holy Island, not far from Bamburgh, the capital of Bernicia.
Ethelwald, king of Deira, knowing Cedd to be a man of real piety,
desired him to accept some land for the building of a monastery, at
which the king might attend to pray. Cedd availed himself of the
proposal, and chose Lestingham. Having fixed on the spot for the site of
the sanctuary, he resolved to consecrate it by fasting and prayer all the
Lent; eating nothing except on the Lord's day, until evening; and then
only a little bread, an egg, and a small quantity of milk diluted with
water; he then began the building. He established in it the same
discipline observed at Lindisfarne. Cedd governed his diocese many
years; and died of a plague, when on a visit to his favourite monastery
at Lindisfarne, where he had been ordained bishop by Finan; he was
interred here, 664, but his remains were taken up, and re-interred in
the present church, on the right side of the altar.

[Illustration: (_The Crypt._)]

The present Saxon church contains many relics of antiquity; as painted
glass, ancient inscriptions, &c.; but the most remarkable feature
of is interior is the celebrated crypt, or vault, formerly used as a
depository for the venerated relics of canonized prelates. At the east
end of this subterraneous retreat, from the window through which the
light faintly gleams, the scene is interesting to astonishment. Here
you perceive the massy arches ranged in perspective on huge cylindrical
pillars, with variously sculptured capitals, each differing from the
other, and all in the real Saxon style; to this add the groined roof,