Cuthbert agreed to become bishop at the request of King Ecgfrith in 684, but within about two years he returned to his hermitage in Farne as he felt death approaching.
Cuthbert souhlasil, aby se stal biskupem na žádost krále Ecgfrithe v roce 684, avšak během pár let se vrátil do své poustevny ve Farne s očekáváním blízké smrti.