Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of York: A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Archi-Episcopal SeeClutton-Brock, A. (Arthur)
History
Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of York: A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Archi-Episcopal See
Clutton-Brock, A. (Arthur)
York Minster
#Paulinus# (627-633). The origin and even the nationality of Paulinus
are unknown. It is said that he was sent from Italy by Gregory the Great
to assist Augustine in Kent. Nennius states that Edwin of Northumbria
was baptised by Rum, the son of Urien. It has been supposed that this
Rum may have originally gone to Italy, and there taken the name of
Paulinus, and that consequently Paulinus was a Briton; but this is mere
conjecture. For over twenty years Paulinus remained with Augustine; but
in 625 a marriage was arranged between Edwin, King of Northumbria and
overlord of England, and Ethelberga, daughter of Ethelbert, the
Christian King of Kent. Edwin, though still a Pagan, agreed that
Ethelberga should be allowed the free exercise of her religion, and that
she should bring a chaplain with her, who might preach the Christian
faith when and where he chose.
The office was given to Paulinus, and before setting out he was
consecrated Bishop of the Northumbrians by Archbishop Justus. For some
little time Edwin remained Pagan, but he allowed his daughter to be
baptised so soon as she was born. Finally, a conference took place
between Paulinus and the nobles of Northumbria, probably at
Londesborough, as a result of which Edwin, two 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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