Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

SAXON
PEHIOD.
tensions. A stronger monarchy gave expression to
claims long seething in the heart of princes.
The first Saxon dioceses were of immense extent,
and their government beyond the capacity of one
nielli. Hence there was very good reason for Archbishop
Theodore's policy of division. The diocese of
Winchester stretched from Kent to Cornwall, and
for a long time it represented the only see in
Wessex. It was originally founded at Dorchester.
Before Bede's death the number of bishops had been
increased from seven to fourteen : " Canterbury and
Rochester for the kingdom of Kent; Dunwich and
Helmham for that of East Anglia ; Winchester and
Sherborne for Wessex ; Lichfield, Worcester, Hereford,
and Dorchester (Oxford) for Mercia ; York,
Hexham, Lindisfarne, and Witherne for Nortlmm-
bria "-1 Sees were occasionally transferred, which
accounts for the unfamiliar titles of the original
dioceses. According to Bishop Godwin, Salisbury
was founded in 705, Bath and Wells in 1059, and
Exeter in 905.2
Much is said in history abput courtier bishops, and
perhaps too little of the ideal episcopal life as it was
often carried out. The characteristics of the Saxon
bishops were manual labour, teaching, almsgiving,
and works of charity. They were wont to exercise
a handicraft, and to enrich their churches with the
fruits of their labours. Copying, bookbinding, illu-
1 Linganl, i. 79.
2 De Prccsulibiis Anylm