The complete organization of the ecclesiastical power in England appears to have been effected by Theodore, who is distinctly affirmed to have been the first prelate whose authority the whole church of the Angles consented to admit[854]. There is reason to suppose that this was not accomplished without some difficulty, for it involved the division of previously existing dioceses, and the consequent diminution of previously existing power and influence. Theodore, like Augustine, had been despatched from Rome to England, under very peculiar circumstances. After the death of Deusdedit, archbishop of Canterbury, a difficulty appears to have arisen about the election of a successor, in consequence of which the see remained for some time without an occupant[855]. At length however Oswiú of Northumberland and Ecgberht of Kent undertook to put a period to a state of affairs which must have caused grave inconveniences[856], and accordingly they took, with the election and consent of the church, a presbyter of the late archbishop, named Wigheard, and sent him to Rome for consecration. It is most remarkable that we hear nothing of any co-operation on the part of Wessex in this step, or of the powerful king of Mercia, Wulfhere, who had succeeded in establishing the independence of his country against all the efforts of Oswiú himself. Shortly after his arrival in Rome Wigheard died, and after some correspondence with the English kings, Vitalian undertook to provide a prelate for the vacant see[857]. Various difficulties being finally overcome, his choice fell upon Theodore of Tarsus, who accordingly was despatched to England with the power of an archbishop, and solemnly enthroned at Canterbury in 668. ----- Footnote 854: “Isque primus erat in archiepiscopis, cui omnis Anglorum aecclesia manus dare consentiret.” Beda, II. E. iv. 2. Footnote 855: Deusdedit died Nov. 28th, 664. The Saxon Chronicle and Florence assign 667 as the date of Wigheard’s mission, but this is hardly reconcilable with the facts of the case, and appears to be an erroneous calculation founded on the circumstance that the see was vacant three years, and that Theodore arrived only in 668. Some time must have elapsed from Wigheard’s departure for Rome, until the interchange of letters between Oswiú and Pope Vitalian, and the completion of the negotiations which resulted in Theodore’s appointment. Footnote 856: The want of an archbishop to give canonical ordination to bishops, seems to have forced itself upon their notice. “Hunc antistitem ordinandum Romam miserunt; quatenus accepto ipso gradu archiepiscopatus, catholicos per omnem Britanniam aecclesiis Anglorum ordinare posset antistites.” Beda, H. E. iv. 29. It was at all events a good argument, though the difficulty was one which Gaul had often arranged. Footnote 857: