Anglo Saxon Dioceses 1000

The Viking invasions in the 9th century threw the earlier process of diocese creation into reverse, with a broad swathe of England between Northumbria and Wessex falling under the Danelaw. After the Saxon reconquest by Athelstan (927–39), the Danish territory was recolonized by amalgamating dioceses: the huge see of Dorchester extended to the Humber; in East Anglia, Dunwich was absorbed by Elmham. In the north, the diocese of Chester-le-Street was established (883), ultimately incorporating Lindisfarne and dividing Hexham with York. Meanwhile, to the south, new sees were carved out in the West Country, with Wells, Ramsbury and Crediton all coming into being in the early 10th century. Cornwall had remained obstinately independent until the 850s, when its bishop Kenstec submitted to Canterbury; it was belatedly rewarded by Athelstan with its own diocese based at St Germans.