York Minster stands on the site of old St. Peter's Church where King Edwin was baptised by S. Paulinus.
According to the Venerable Bede, Saint Paulinus reasoned with King Edwin. His efforts bore fruit. One of the king's nobles offered this observation:
"This is how the present life of man on Earth, King, appears to me in comparison with that time which is unknown to us. You are sitting feasting with your ealdormen and thegns in winter time. The fire is burning on the hearth in the middle of the hall and all outside is warm, while outside the wintry storms of rain and snow are raging - and a sparrow flies swiftly through the hall. It enters in at one door and quickly flies out through the other. For the few moments it is inside, the storm and wintry tempest cannot touch it, but after the briefest moment of calm, it flits from your sight, out of the wintry storm and into it again. So this life of man appears but for a moment. What follows or, indeed, what went before, we know not at all. If this new religion can shed light on what lies ahead, let us follow it."The king, at the encouragement of the pagan priest Coifi, consented to be baptised and embrace the Christian faith. Coifi was the first to tear down the pagan altars that he had helped erect.
S. Paulinus, the way ahead is dark - Pray for us!
