This is the first part of a series of caching that form a walk of about 6.5 miles. The original 'Footsreps of St Birinus' caches were set by No Educashun. We have adopted those and added extras to make a new walk for 'old' cachers.
St Birinus, also known as Berin (his Saxon name), is credited with converting the Saxon King Cynegils and his court to Christianity in the 7th Century. Although Christianity had reached England during the time of the Roman Empire, once the Romans left, the Saxons reverted to their old ways and much of England was pagan.
This first cache is placed looking towards Churn Knob; we can stand here and imagine the Saxon tribe gathering to hear Berin preach. lKing Cynegils may have had an ulterior motive in that he wanted an alliance with the Christian Oswald of Northumbria, but whatever the reason, he became the first Christian King of the Saxons. It was upon this tumulus that the saint was supposed to have first preached to the people of England in AD 634. A large wooden cross erected there commemorates the event.
Finding the pagan Saxons of the Thames Valley greatly in need of Christian teaching, he decided to stay and was directed to the King’s estate on the Berkshire Downs, possibly at Cholsey.
Birinus baptised King Cynegils to Chritianity at Dorchester with the Christian King of Northumbria, Oswald acting as his sponsor. The two Kings gave Birinus the former Roman garrison, now Dorchester, and here he founded his Cathedral, where Dorchester Abbey now stands.
The cache is hidden on a permissive footpath. Please keep to the footpath.
Congratulation to wildOne and Rocket on their FTF!