The north of England, however, owed its conversion chiefly to the
Irish monks of an earlier age. They had planted monasteries in
Ireland and Scotland from which colonies went forth, one of which
settled in Durham. Cuthbert, a Saxon monk of that monastery in the
seventh century, traveled as a missionary throughout Northumbria, and
was afterward recognized as the saint of the North. Through his
influence that kingdom was induced to accept Christianity. Other
missionaries went to other districts to carry the "good tidings of
great joy."
In one case an aged chief arose in an assembly of warriors and said:
"O king, as a bird flies through this hall in the winter night, coming
out of the darkness and vanishing into it again, even such is our
life. If these strangers can tell us aught of what is beyond, let us
give heed to them."
But, as Bede informs us in his history of the English CHurch (S99),
some of the converts were too cautious to commit themselves entirely
to the new religion. One king, who had set up a large altar devoted
to the worship of Christ, set up a smaller one at the other end of the
hall to the old heathen deities, in order that he might make sure of
the favor of both.