o of his children, and many
of his court were baptised at York on Easter Day, 627; while the heathen
high priest Coifi took the chief part in destroying a great temple at
Godmandham.
But in 633 Edwin was killed in battle, and Paulinus fled with the Queen
back to Kent. He was created Bishop of Rochester, where he remained
until his death, 644. Afterwards he became the patron saint of
Rochester.
633-664. After the flight of Paulinus the country relapsed into
Paganism. When Oswald, a Christian, became King of Northumbria, he
applied not to Canterbury but to Scotland for a missionary to his
kingdom, and this was the beginning of the rivalry between the British
and Roman churches in Northumbria. Aidan, a monk of Iona was sent, and
became Bishop of Lindisfarne (635-657). He was succeeded by Finan
(651-661); Colman (661-664); and Tuda (664-5). But these men cannot be
accounted bishops of York. None of them received the pall, which,
indeed, was given to no bishop of York between Paulinus and Egbert
(735).
#Ceadda# and #Wilfrid# (664-678). Wilfrid, who had been educated in
Italy, became Bishop of York, with jurisdiction over the whole of
Northumbria. He refused, however, to be consecrated by a British
prelate, and went to Gaul for that purpose. He was away three years,
and, in his absence, Oswi, the King, appointed Ceadda (St. Chad) to the
see. Ceadda was of the British Church, and was consecrated by the Bishop
of Winchester. Wilfrid, when he returned, went to the monastery of
Ripon, and lived there in retirement.
In 669 Ceadda retired, and Wilfrid became Bishop of York. Ceadda was
made Bishop of Mercia.
Wilfrid did not obtain the pall, but exercised the powers of a
Metropolitan. He restored the dilapidated cathedral, and built minsters
at Hexham and Ripon.
He quarrelled in course of time with Egfrith, King of Northumbrian who
induced Theodore, in 678, to divide his diocese into four
bishoprics--York, Lindisfarne, Hexham, and Witherne. Wilfrid went to
Rome to appeal to the Pope. His appeal was successful, but when he
returned in 680 he was imprisoned, and afterwards banished. But in 686
Theodore intervened again, and reconciled him to the king. He was first
given the sees of Lindisfarne and Hexham, and afterwards York, but he
soon quarrelled with the king again, and left Northumbria. It is
uncertain whether Wilfrid died in the possession of the see or not. He
died, 711, aged 75. He was buried at Ripon. In 940 his
|