In the middle 400's the pagan Anglo-Saxons invaded Britain, driving the
Christian Britons north and west into Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, and
Ireland. In 597 a band of monks headed by Augustine of
Canterbury (feast 26 May--not to be confused with Augustine of Hippo) arrived in southeastern England,
in the kingdom of Kent, and began to evangelize the people there, with
considerable success. In 601 a second group of monks arrived, including
Paulinus (born around 584). Sometime after 616, Edwin, the pagan king of
Northumbria (the region north of the Humber river--roughly the northern
quarter of England), asked for the hand in marriage of Ethelburga, the
sister of the king of Kent. He was told that a Christian princess could
not marry a pagan, but he promised that she would be free to practice her
religion, and that he would listen to Christian preachers, and seriously
consider becoming a Christian himself. At this Ethelburga agreed to marry
him, and went north in 625, taking with her as chaplain the monk
Paulinus, who was consecrated bishop for the purpose. Edwin heard the
preaching of Paulinus for many months, and finally consulted his
advisors. Coifi, the high priest of the pagan religion, advised adopting
Christianity, since he said that the pagan religion had not proved
satisfactory. Another nobleman agreed, saying: "Life is like a banquet
hall. Inside is light and fire and warmth and feasting, but outside it is
cold and dark. A sparrow flies in through a window at one end, flies the
length of the hall, and out through a window at the other end. That is
what life is like. At birth we emerge from the unknown, and for a brief
while we are here on this earth, with a fair amount of comfort and
happiness. But then we fly out the window at the other end, into the cold
and dark and unknown future. If the new religion can lighten that
darkness for us, then let us follow it." The other elders and counselors
of the king gave similar advice, and so in 627 the king and many of his
chief men were baptized. Other conversions followed, and the Church in
Northumbria flourished. However, six years later, King Edwin was defeated
and killed by Cadwallon of Wales and Penda of Mercia at the battle of
Hatfield Chase. Paulinus left his deacon James in charge of what remained
of the Church there, and took Queen Ethelburga and her children back to
Kent by ship. There the elderly Paulinus was given the bishopric of
Rochester, which he held till his death on 10 October 644. For the
continuing story of the Church in Northumbria, see Oswald, King of Northumbria (5 August 642) and Aidan, missionary (31 August 651).
Almighty and everlasting God, we thank thee for thy servant Paulinus, whom thou didst call to preach the Gospel to the people of northern England. Raise up, we beseech thee, in this and every land evangelists and heralds of thy kingdom, that thy Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for your servant Paulinus, whom you called to preach the Gospel to the people of northern England. Raise up in this and every land evangelists and heralds of your kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.