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Life of St Wilfrid

Eddius Stephanus, tr. Colgrave, 1927

16. How the Church at York Was Restored

Now during the reign of the above-mentioned king, after Wilfrid of blessed memory had been appointed metropolitan bishop of the city of York, the stone buildings of the church in that city were obviously in a ruinous condition. This church of God had been first founded by the holy Paulinus the bishop and dedicated to God in the days of Edwin, that most Christian king. But now the ridge of the roof owing to its age let the water through, the windows were unglazed and the birds flew in and out, building their nests, while the neglected walls were disgusting to behold owing to all the filth caused by the rain and the birds. When our holy bishop saw all this his spirit was vexed within him, as Daniel’s was, because he saw that the house of God and the house of prayer had become like a den of thieves; so, forthwith, in accordance with the will of God, he made a plan to restore it. First of all he renewed the ruined roof ridges, skilfully covering them with pure lead; by putting glass in the windows he prevented the birds or the rain from getting in, although it did not keep out the rays of light. He also washed the walls, and, in the words of the prophet, made them “whiter than snow.” Furthermore, not only did he adorn the inside of the house of God and the altar with various kinds of vessels and furniture, but outside he richly endowed the church with many estates which he had acquired for God, thus removing its poverty by endowing it with lands. Then the word of the Lord concerning Samuel and all saints was fulfilled in him: “Them that honour me,” He said, “I will honour”; for he was beloved and honoured both by God and by the whole nation.