Birinus came to Wessex to convert the Saxons to Christianity. After Birinus converted King Cynegils of the West Saxons in AD 635, the King gave the old Roman town of Dorchester to Birinus to build a Cathedral. Birinus thus became the first Bishop of Dorchester. The original Shrine was broken up in 1536 and the present Shrine was reconstructed in 1964 from fragments of the original.

Dorchester Abbey Shrine Birinus Saint Abbeys and Cathedrals

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