Birinus

Saint Birinus
Bishop of Dorchester
Stained glass window of Birinus at Dorchester Abbey
Appointed	before 634
Term ended	3 December 649
Predecessor	diocese established
Successor	Agilbertus
Personal details
Born	c. 600 Francia^{[citation needed]}
Died	3 December 649 or 650 Dorchester, Wessex (England)
Sainthood
Feast day	3 December (Catholic) 4 September (Anglican)
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodoxy; Anglican Communion
Attributes	Bishop, sometimes baptising a king
Patronage	Berkshire; Dorchester
Shrines	Dorchester Abbey, now destroyed. Small parts survive. Modern replica now in place. (Or Winchester Cathedral, now destroyed.)

Birinus (also Berin, Birin; c. 600 – 3 December 649 or 650) was the first Bishop of Dorchester^[1] and was known as the "Apostle to the West Saxons" for his conversion of the Kingdom of Wessex to Christianity. He is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Anglican churches.

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Life and ministry

After Augustine of Canterbury performed the initial conversions in England, Birinus, a Frank, came to the kingdom of Wessex in 634,^[2] landing at the port of Hamwic, now in the St Mary's area of Southampton. During Birinus's brief time at Hamwic, St Mary's Church was founded.^[3]

A Benedictine monk, Birinus had been made bishop by Asterius in Genoa,^[4] and Pope Honorius I created the commission to convert the West Saxons.^[5] In 635, he persuaded the West Saxon king Cynegils to allow him to preach. Cynegils was trying to create an alliance with Oswald of Northumbria, with whom he intended to fight the Mercians. At the final talks between kings, the sticking point was that Oswald, a Christian, would not ally himself with a pagan. Cynegils then converted and was baptised.^[6]^[7] He gave Birinus Dorchester-on-Thames for his episcopal see.^[5] Birinus's original commission entailed preaching to parts of Britain where no missionary efforts had reached and may have included instructions to reach the Mercians. But he ultimately remained in Wessex.^[8]

Birinus is said to have been active in establishing churches in Wessex:^[9] foundations ascribed to him include St Mary's in Reading,^[10] St Peter and St Paul, Checkendon, near Reading,^[11] and the first church at Ipsden, built about two miles from the present church.^[12] Birinus baptised Cynegils's son Cwichelm (died 636) in 636^[13] and grandson Cuthred (died 661) in 639, to whom he stood as godfather.^[14]

Birinus died in Dorchester on 3 December in 649 or 650.^[15]

Veneration

Birinus' feast day is 3 December in the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church,^[16]^[17] but some churches celebrate his feast on 5 December.^[15] His feast was added to the Roman Martyrology in the late 16th century.^[18] In the Church of England, his feast day falls on 4 September and has the status of a commemoration.^[19]^[20] His relics were eventually translated to Winchester after his death.^[21]

A small number of Church of England parish churches are dedicated to Birinus, including those at Berinsfield in Oxfordshire and Redlynch in Wiltshire. The Catholic church in Dorchester, one of the first built after the restoration of the hierarchy^[22] by Pope Pius IX, is also dedicated to Birinus.

References

Citations

^ Powicke & Fryde 1961, p. 219.
^ Walsh 2007, p. 102.
^ Coles 1981, p. 6.
^ Bede 1969, 3.7; Thompson 1886.
^ ^a ^b Kirby 2000, p. 38.
^ Jones, Terry H. "Birinus". Patron Saints Index. Catholic Community Forum. Liturgical Publications of St. Louis. Archived from the original on 13 August 2007. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
^ Thompson 1886.
^ Kirby 2000, p. 51.
^ Bede 1969, 3.7.
^ "Holy Hierarch Birinus", Orthodox Christianity
^ "History of St Peter & St Paul, Checkendon". Langtree Team Ministry. Archived from the original on 10 June 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
^ "History of St Mary the Virgin, Ipsden". Langtree Team Ministry. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
^ Bately 1986, an. 636; Davis 1912, p. 57.
^ Bately 1986, an. 639; Davis 1912, p. 57.
^ ^a ^b Livingstone 2013, p. 68.
^ "St. Birinus". Catholic Online. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
^ Kommodatos 1985.
^ Farmer 2011, p. 53.
^ "The Calendar". The Church of England. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
^ Church of England Liturgical Commission 2000, p. 13.
^ Kirby 2000, p. 49.
^ "Saint Birinus Catholic Church". Dorchester on Thames, England: Saint Birinus Catholic Church. Retrieved 1 April 2018.

Works cited

Bately, Janet M. (1986). The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: A Collaborative Edition. Vol. 3. Cambridge, England: D.S. Brewer. ISBN 978-0-85991-103-0.
Bede (1969). Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 978-0-19-822202-6.
Church of England Liturgical Commission (2000). Common Worship. London: Church House Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7151-2000-2.
Coles, R. J. (1981). Southampton's Historic Buildings. City of Southampton Society.
Davis, A. C. (1912). "Birinus". In Ollard, S. L. (ed.). A Dictionary of English Church History. London: A. R. Mowbray and Co. pp. 56–57. LCCN 13001314. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
Farmer, David (2011). The Oxford Dictionary of Saints (rev. 5th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780199596607.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-1995-9660-7.
Kirby, D. P. (2000). The Earliest English Kings. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-24211-0.
Kommodatos, Christophoros (1985). οἱ Ἅγιοι τῶν Βρετανικῶν Νήσων [The Saints of the British Isles] (in Greek). Athens: Semandro.
Livingstone, E. A., ed. (2013). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780199659623.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-965962-3.
Powicke, F. Maurice; Fryde, E. B. (1961). Handbook of British Chronology (2nd ed.). London: Royal Historical Society.
Thompson, E. Maunde (1886). "Birinus" . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 5. New York: Macmillan and Co. p. 80.
Walsh, Michael (2007). A New Dictionary of Saints: East and West. London: Burns & Oats. ISBN 978-0-86012-438-2.

Ford, David Nash (2001). "St. Birinus (c. 600–649)". Royal Berkshire History. Wokingham, England: Nash Ford Publishing. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
Kimball, Charles L. (1907). "St. Birinus (Berin)" . In Herbermann, Charles G.; Pace, Edward A.; Pallen, Condé B.; Shahan, Thomas J.; Wynne, John J. (eds.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Encyclopedia Press (published 1913). p. 578.
Love, Rosalind C., ed. (1996). Three Eleventh-Century Anglo-Latin Saints' Lives: Vita S. Birini, Vita Et Miracula S. Kenelmi and Vita S. Rumwoldi. Oxford Medieval Texts. Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 978-0-19-820524-1. ISSN 0474-974X.

Christian titles
New title	Bishop of Dorchester 634–649	Succeeded by Agilbertus

v t e Bishops of Winchester
Early Medieval 634–1006	Birinus, Bishop of Dorchester Agilbert, Bishop of Dorchester Wine Leuthere Hædde Daniel Hunfrith Cyneheard Æthelheard Ecgbald Dudd Cyneberht Ealhmund Wigthegn Herefrith (disputed) Eadmund (disputed) Eadhun Helmstan Swithun Ealhferth Tunbeorht Denewulf Frithestan Beornstan/Byrnstan Ælfheah I Ælfsige I Beorhthelm Æthelwold I Ælfheah II	Arms of the Bishop of Winchester
High Medieval 1006–1304	Cenwulf Æthelwold II Ælfsige II Ælfwine Stigand Walkelin William Giffard Henry of Blois Richard of Ilchester Godfrey de Luci Richard Poore Peter des Roches Ralph Neville William de Raley Aymer de Valence Andrew of London William de Taunton John Gervais Nicholas of Ely Robert Burnell Richard de la More John of Pontoise
Late Medieval 1305–1501	Henry Woodlock John Sandale Rigaud of Assier John de Stratford Adam Orleton William Edington William of Wykeham Henry Beaufort William Waynflete Peter Courtenay Thomas Langton
Early Modern 1501–1820	Richard Foxe Thomas Wolsey Stephen Gardiner John Ponet Stephen Gardiner John White Robert Horne John Watson Thomas Cooper William Wickham William Day Thomas Bilson James Montague Lancelot Andrewes Richard Neile Walter Curle Episcopacy abolished (Commonwealth) Brian Duppa George Morley Peter Mews Jonathan Trelawny Charles Trimnell Richard Willis Benjamin Hoadly John Thomas Brownlow North
Late Modern 1820–current	George Pretyman Tomline Charles Sumner Samuel Wilberforce Harold Browne Anthony Thorold Randall Davidson Herbert Ryle Edward Talbot Theodore Woods Cyril Garbett Mervyn Haigh Alwyn Williams Falkner Allison John Taylor Colin James Michael Scott-Joynt Tim Dakin Philip Mounstephen

v t e Saints of Anglo-Saxon England
British / Welsh	Aldate of Oxford Barloc of Norbury Brannoc of Braunton Branwalator of Milton Credan of Bodmin Congar of Congresbury Dachuna of Bodmin Decuman of Watchet Elfin of Warrington Ivo of Ramsey Judoc of Winchester Melorius of Amesbury Nectan of Hartland Neot of Cornwall Patrick of Glastonbury Rumon of Tavistock Samson of Dol Sativola of Exeter
East Anglian	Æthelberht of East Anglia Æthelburh of Faremoutiers Æthelflæd of Ramsey Æthelthryth of Ely Æthelwine of Lindsey Athwulf of Thorney Blida of Martham Botwulf of Thorney Cissa of Crowland Cuthbald of Peterborough Eadmund of East Anglia Eadnoth of Ramsey Guthlac of Crowland Herefrith of Thorney Hiurmine of Blythburgh Huna of Thorney Pega of Peakirk Seaxburh of Ely Sigeberht of East Anglia Tancred of Thorney Torthred of Thorney Tova of Thorney Walstan of Bawburgh Wendreda Wihtburh of Ely Wulfric of Holme
East Saxon	Æthelburh of Barking Hildelith of Barking Osgyth Sæbbi of London
Frisian, Frankish and Old Saxon	Balthild of Romsey Bertha of Kent Felix of Dommoc Helier of Jersey Grimbald of St Bertin Monegunda of Watton Odwulf of Evesham Wulfram of Grantham
Irish and Scottish	Aidan of Lindisfarne Boisil of Melrose Echa of Crayke Ultan the Scribe Indract of Glastonbury Maildub of Malmesbury
Kentish	Æbbe of Thanet (Domne Eafe) Æthelberht of Kent Æthelburh of Kent Æthelred of Kent Albinus of Canterbury Berhtwald of Canterbury Deusdedit of Canterbury Edburga of Minster-in-Thanet Eanswith of Folkestone Eormengyth of Thanet Mildrith of Thanet Nothhelm of Canterbury Sigeburh of Thanet
Mercian	Ælfnoth of Stowe Ælfthryth of Crowland Æthelberht of Bedford Æthelmod of Leominster Æthelred of Mercia Æthelwynn of Sodbury Aldwyn of Coln Beonna of Breedon Beorhthelm of Stafford Coenwulf of Mercia Cotta of Breedon Credan of Evesham Cyneburh of Castor Cyneburh of Gloucester Cynehelm of Winchcombe Cyneswith of Peterborough Eadburh of Bicester Eadburh of Pershore Eadburh of Southwell Eadgyth of Aylesbury Eadweard of Maugersbury Ealdgyth of Stortford Earconwald of London Egwin of Evesham Freomund of Mercia Frithuric of Breedon Frithuswith of Oxford Frithuwold of Chertsey Hæmma of Leominster Merefin Mildburh of Wenlock Mildgyth Mildrith of Thanet Milred of Worcester Oda of Canterbury Oswald of Worcester Osburh of Coventry Regenhere of Northampton Rumbold of Buckingham Tibba of Ryhall Werburgh of Chester Wærstan Wigstan of Repton Wulfhild of Barking
Northumbrian	Acca of Hexham Æbbe "the Elder" of Coldingham Æbbe "the Younger" of Coldingham Ælfflæd of Whitby Ælfwald of Northumbria Æthelburh of Hackness Æthelgyth of Coldingham Æthelsige of Ripon Æthelwold of Farne Æthelwold of Lindisfarne Alchhild of Middleham Alchmund of Hexham Alkmund of Derby Balthere of Tyningham Beda of Jarrow Bega of Copeland Benedict Biscop Bercthun of Beverley Billfrith of Lindisfarne Bosa of York Botwine of Ripon Ceadda of Lichfield Cedd of Lichfield Ceolfrith of Monkwearmouth Ceolwulf of Northumbria Cuthbert of Durham Dryhthelm of Melrose Eadberht of Lindisfarne Eadfrith of Leominster Eadfrith of Lindisfarne Eadwine of Northumbria Ealdberht of Ripon Eanmund Eardwulf of Northumbria Eata of Hexham Ecgberht of Ripon Eoda Eosterwine of Monkwearmouth Hilda of Whitby Hyglac Iwig of Wilton John of Beverley Osana of Howden Osthryth of Bardney Oswald of Northumbria Oswine of Northumbria Sicgred of Ripon Sigfrith of Monkwearmouth Tatberht of Ripon Wihtberht of Ripon Wilfrith of Hexham Wilfrith II Wilgils of Ripon
Roman	Augustine of Canterbury Firmin of North Crawley Birinus of Dorchester Blaise Florentius of Peterborough Hadrian of Canterbury Honorius of Canterbury James the Deacon Justus of Canterbury Laurence of Canterbury Mellitus of Canterbury Paulinus of York Peter of Canterbury Theodore of Canterbury
South Saxon	Cuthflæd of Lyminster Cuthmann of Steyning Lewina of Bishopstone
West Saxon	Æbbe of Abingdon Ælfgar of Selwood Ælfgifu of Exeter Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury Ælfheah of Canterbury Ælfheah of Winchester Æthelflæd of Romsey Æthelgar of Canterbury Æthelnoth of Canterbury Æthelwine of Athelney Æthelwold of Winchester Aldhelm of Sherborne Benignus of Glastonbury Beocca of Chertsey Beorhthelm of Shaftesbury Beornstan of Winchester Beornwald of Bampton Centwine of Wessex Cuthburh of Wimborn Cwenburh of Wimborne Dunstan of Canterbury Eadburh of Winchester Eadgar of England Eadgyth of Polesworth Eadgyth of Wilton Eadweard the Confessor Eadweard the Martyr Eadwold of Cerne Earmund of Stoke Fleming Edor of Chertsey Evorhilda Frithestan of Winchester Hædde of Winchester Humbert of Stokenham Hwita of Whitchurch Canonicorum Mærwynn of Romsey Margaret of Dunfermline Swithhun of Winchester Wulfsige of Sherborne Wulfthryth of Wilton
Unclear origin	Arilda of Oldbury Juthwara of Sherbourne Rumbold of Mechlin Urith of Chittlehampton