Paulinus fled from Northumbria at Eadwine's fall; and the Roman Church, though established in Kent, did little in contending elsewhere against the heathen reaction.

Its place in the conversion of northern England was taken by missionaries from Ireland.

To understand the true meaning of this change we must remember how greatly the Christian Church in the west had been affected by the German invasion.

Before the landing of the English in Britain the Christian Church stretched in an unbroken line across Western Europe to the furthest coasts of Ireland.

The conquest of Britain by the pagan English thrust a wedge of heathendom into the heart of this great communion and broke it into two unequal parts.