Saint Birinus
Saint Birinus (born c. 600 AD, probably in Italy or Francia; died December 3, 650 AD in Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England) was an Italian or Frankish missionary bishop who evangelized the West Saxons of Wessex and served as the first Bishop of Dorchester-on-Thames. He baptized King Cynegils of Wessex in 635 AD—a moment commemorated as the formal beginning of Christianity in the West Saxon kingdom—and governed the new church for fifteen years until his death. He is venerated as the Apostle of the West Saxons. His feast day is December 3.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Birinus
| Saint Birinus | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | December 03 |
| Profession | Missionary bishop; apostle to the West Saxons |
| Rel. Affiliation | Early Anglo-Saxon Church |
| Patronage | West Saxons; Dorchester-on-Thames; Diocese of Portsmouth (historical); Winchester |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; baptismal font; King Cynegils beside him |
| Birthplace | Italy or Francia (exact location unknown) |
| Death Place | Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Cathedral of Winchester, Hampshire, England (where his relics were translated); also Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire |
| Liturgical Class | Not included (universal calendar); observed in Diocese of Portsmouth and Anglican calendar |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Mission to England
Birinus was sent to England as a missionary bishop by Pope Honorius I around 634 AD, with the task of evangelizing those pagan English who lived in the interior, away from the coastal areas that earlier missionaries had reached. He had received his training in Italy or Francia and was consecrated bishop by Asterius, Archbishop of Milan, before departing.
He arrived in Wessex and found the West Saxons entirely pagan. The Venerable Bede, in his Ecclesiastical History, records that Birinus had planned to push on into the interior of Britain but found the West Saxons so thoroughly pagan that he decided to begin his mission among them instead.
Baptism of King Cynegils
In 635 AD, Birinus baptized King Cynegils of Wessex—the first Christian king of the West Saxons. The baptism took place with King Oswald of Northumbria as godfather; Oswald was at that time the most powerful king in England and had recently brought Christianity to Northumbria. As a result of the baptism and the alliance it sealed, Cynegils gave Birinus the city of Dorchester-on-Thames as his episcopal see.
The baptism of Cynegils marks the formal beginning of the Christianization of Wessex—the kingdom that would eventually become the most powerful in Anglo-Saxon England and the base from which Alfred the Great and his successors unified England.
Episcopal ministry
Birinus governed the new Diocese of Dorchester-on-Thames for approximately fifteen years, baptizing many West Saxons, building churches, and organizing Christian life. He also baptized Cynegils's son and successor Cenwealh (though Cenwealh later apostatized and returned to Christianity only after a period of exile).
Death and translation
Birinus died on December 3, 650 AD. He was first buried at Dorchester-on-Thames. His relics were later translated to Winchester by Bishop Hedda of Winchester around 690 AD, where they remained in the Old Minster. After the Norman Conquest, they were translated to Winchester Cathedral, where they rest in one of the historic mortuary chests atop the presbytery screen.
Significant events
- Commissioned as missionary bishop by Pope Honorius I c. 634 AD; consecrated by Archbishop Asterius of Milan.
- Arrived in Wessex and began mission to the West Saxons.
- Baptized King Cynegils of Wessex in 635 AD; King Oswald of Northumbria was godfather.
- Received Dorchester-on-Thames as his episcopal see.
- Governed Diocese of Dorchester-on-Thames c. 635–650 AD.
- Died December 3, 650 AD.
- Relics translated to Winchester by Bishop Hedda c. 690 AD; now in Winchester Cathedral.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Italy or Francia (exact location unknown)
Death location: Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England
Notable location: His episcopal see; the first cathedral of the West Saxons (Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England)
Notable location: Location of the Cathedral of Winchester where his relics were later translated (Winchester, Hampshire, England)
Notable location: Traditional site of the baptism of King Cynegils, 635 AD (Churn Knob, Berkshire, England (near Blewbury))
Notable location:
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Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Saint Birinus have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| Dec.3 — The Untold Story of Saint Birinus: The Apostle Who Converted the West Saxons | 15–30 minutes | Biographies of the Saints |
Shrines
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Known shrines
- Winchester Cathedral, Winchester, Hampshire, England — his relics rest in one of the mortuary chests on the presbytery screen; major medieval pilgrimage destination.
- Dorchester Abbey, Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire — the site of his original see; a beautiful medieval abbey church survives on the site.
Feast day
December 3
Veneration
Saint Birinus is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion with a feast day on December 3. He is the patron of the historic Diocese of Dorchester and is venerated at Winchester Cathedral and Dorchester Abbey.
Prayers
Authored
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Intercessory
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