Saint Birinus

Birinus was sent by Pope Honorius I to preach to the pagan peoples of England and was consecrated a bishop by Asterius of Genoa. He landed in Wessex in 634 and soon baptized King Cynegils, with the Christian King Oswald of Northumbria standing as godfather. The king gave him Dorchester-on-Thames as his see, and from there he preached, baptized and built churches throughout the region. He died around 650 and is honored as the Apostle of the West Saxons.

Dorchester Abbey in Oxfordshire keeps his memory, and an annual pilgrimage walks to it from Churn Knob, where he is said to have preached.