Paulinus of York

Paulinus of York

Paulinus was a Roman missionary and the first Bishop of York. He was part of the second group of missionaries sent to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. After his death in 644, he was canonized as a saint and is now venerated in the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Anglican Churches.

About Paulinus of York in brief

Summary Paulinus of YorkPaulinus was a Roman missionary and the first Bishop of York. He was part of the second group of missionaries sent to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. Paulinus arrived in England by 604 with the second missionary group. After some years spent in Kent, perhaps in 625, Paulinus was consecrated a bishop. He accompanied Æthelburg of Kent, sister of King Eadbald of Kent to Northumbria to marry King Edwin of Northumbrian. He eventually succeeded in converting Edwin to Christianity and built some churches. After his death in 644, he was canonized as a saint and is now venerated in the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Anglican Churches. He is buried at St Paul’s Cathedral, York, with the remains of his wife, Hilda of Whitby, and their two children, Eanflæd and Hilda II, in the crypt of St Peter’s Church, York.

The remains of Paulinus are still visible in York, and he is buried with his wife and children in St Paul’s Church, Rochester. He died of natural causes at the age of 80. He had a son, Paulus, who was born in 626, and a daughter,  Eanflâd, who died in 639. His funeral was held in York in 641, and his remains were buried in St Peter’S Church, Warwick, in 642, and later in St James’ Cathedral, London, in 1842. He also had a daughter named Ean Flæd, but she died in childbirth in 643. He left a son named James, who became Bishop of Rochester in 645, and an heir to the throne of Kent.