Wine (bishop) facts for kids

Wine or Wini was an important religious leader in the 7th century. He was a bishop, which is a high-ranking leader in the Christian Church. Wine was the very first Bishop of Winchester. Later, he also became the Bishop of London. He lived before the year 672.

Wine's Time as Bishop

Becoming Bishop of Winchester

Wine was made a priest and then a bishop in a place called Gaul, which is now France. In Wessex, a kingdom in England, King Cenwalh of Wessex was not happy with his current bishop, Agilbert. It seems Agilbert did not speak the local Anglo-Saxon language.

King Cenwalh invited Wine to come to Wessex because Wine could speak Anglo-Saxon. The King built a new church in Winchester. He also divided his kingdom into two areas, called dioceses, each with its own bishop. In 660, Wine became the first bishop of Winchester.

Agilbert was upset because he wasn't asked about these changes. So, he went back to Gaul.

Consecrating Bishop Chad

Later, another king, Oswiu of Northumbria, chose a monk named Chad to be a bishop for the people of Northumberland. King Oswiu sent Chad to Canterbury to be officially made a bishop for York.

However, when Chad arrived in Kent, he found out that the Archbishop there had died. Since no new Archbishop had been chosen yet, Chad went to Bishop Wine in Wessex. Wine was the only bishop in England at that time who was recognized by the Church in Rome as having the authority to make other bishops. So, Wine officially made Chad a bishop.

Moving to London

After some time, King Cenwalh sent Wine away from Wessex. Wine then went to King Wulfhere of Mercia. A historian named Bede wrote that Wine bought the position of bishop for London from King Wulfhere.

Wine stayed as the Bishop of London until he passed away. He died in the year 671.