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Pre-Christian
Times
Conversions to Christianity
A dark time in Northumbria
A dark time in Northumbria
Christianity in Northumbria suffered a severe blow when Edwin was killed in battle by the pagan King of Mercia, Penda. The kingdom of Mercia consisted of the western part of the Midlands and bordering part of Wales. Penda was supported by Cadwallon, King of Gwynedd, a state in northern Wales and the very one to which Cunedda and his warriors had gone from Dunpender years before. [In fact the district-name Gwynedd commemorates the person-name Cunedda.] There followed months of devastation throughout Northumbria by Penda. Paulinus had quickly withdrawn immediately after Edwin's death.