Those who protected saint Cuthbert’s coffin and shrine were known as the community of saint Cuthbert.

• They have been described as both monks or canons.
• They were married priests, and the position was handed down through generations.
• They were highly regarded in Northumbria
• Kings and landowners had given landed estates to them over the years.
• They owned a large part of Northumberland and most of Durham.
• They also owned land north of the tweed, in what was to become Scotland.
• The community were identified with Northumbrian autonomy.
• They resented attempts by anyone to appoint their bishop.
• After the conquest some monks from the south came to re-establish monasticism in the old   Northumbrian monasteries which had been destroyed by the Vikings.
• To keep them under control the French bishop of Durham, William saint Carileph brought   them to Durham and expelled the community.
• One of these Eilaf set up a church at Hexham that was passed to his son; they ensured that   Hexham was governed directly from York rather than Durham.
• Another descendant of the community was Ailred the famous Abbot of Rievaulx