Who was St. Bartholomew?

Bartholomew the Apostle is the patron saint of St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church, Woodinville. Little is known of Bartholomew (Bartholomaios, lit. "son of Tholmai" or "Talmai") himself; he appears in the Gospels explicitly only in lists of the names of the twelve apostles. John, however, though refers to one Nathaniel, friend of Philip, who is believed to be the same person as Bartholomew. In the lists of names, Bartholomew is always paired with Philip.

There is a tradition that he subsequently preached in India, though other traditions place him in regions further East, including Persia and Egypt.

As uncertain is the manner of his death, said to have occurred in Albanus (or Albanopolis, now called Derbent), on the Caspian Sea. By tradition he was flayed alive and either beheaded or crucified head down; thus he is often portrayed in art as a man flayed, holding his own skin in his hand (the image in the Sistine chapel is believed to be a self-portrait by Michelangelo). The tradition of his death is why his shield presents three flensing knives.

The feast of St. Bartholomew is celebrated on August 24th.

More on St. Bartholomew may be found at these (external) links:
  Bartholomew the Apostle
  Patron Saints Index: Saint Bartholomew
  New Advent (Catholic Encyclopedia): Saint Bartholomew