38 
THE CHURCH AND PARISH OF 
Marmoutier. Such was the fame of S. Martin that in his 
lifetime churches were dedicated to him. He died at the end 
of the fourth century. 
At the latter part of the fifth century York was invaded by 
the pagan English, the Christians with their bishop were 
compelled to depart and abandon their church buildings. 
By the increasing incursions of the Anglo-Saxons the British 
Church was gradually driven westward until it settled in 
W ales, Cornwall, and Ireland. In the latter island the British 
Church made wonderful progress, and sent missionaries to 
convert the Anglo Saxons. By the end of the sixth century 
Columba had crossed to Iona and established a monastery. 
In 597 missionaries from Rome came to Kent and converted 
King Ethelbert; twenty-eight years later Edwin, the pagan King 
of Northumbria, married Ethelberga, daughter of Ethelbert. 
Queen Ethelberga was a Christian, so brought her chaplain 
Paulinus with her. In Canterbury they had worshipped in 
the church of S. Martin, and on coming to York what was 
more likely than that they should restore the ruined church of 
S. Martin on the Bishop's Hill, and worship therein. King 
Edwin was eventually converted, and in 627, on the opposite 
side of the river, he built a wooden church, which was the 
beginning of our glorious Minster. For six years Christianity 
flourished in the district and King Edwin began the erection of 
a larger and nobler Minster in stone. After Edwin fell in battle 
York was invaded by the pagan King Penda, and Christianity in 
this city was once more extinguished, the Queen and Paulinus 
fled to the coast and sailed for Kent. 
Subsequently the pagan king was defeated by the Christian 
King Oswald, who sent to Iona for missionaries, and they 
re-introduced Christianity into the district. The church of 
S. Martin was again restored, and most likely had a wooden 
nave and altar-house : shortly before the Norman Conquest 
it was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in stone ; in general 
appearance it resembled the pre-conquest stone church still 
existing at Kirk Hammerton. 
William the Conqueror expelled the English from their 
estates, kept some for himself and distributed the remainder 
to his followers on a tenure of fealtv, so the church and lands 
