WINCHESTER. UNTIL the alterations were made by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners this diocese contained the whole of Hampshire, with the Isle of Wight; the whole of the county of Surrey1, except eleven churches and chapels in Croydon deanery, peculiars to Canterbury; and one parish in Wiltshire called Whitchbury. The isles of Jersey and Guernsey are also accounted to be within this diocese. There are two archdeaconries in this diocese, viz. Winchester and Surrey. The members of the cathedral are the dean and twelve prebendaries, who are not charged with the payment of first fruits and tenths. BISHOPS OF THE WEST SAXONS. 635 BIRINUS. The Giwissi or West Saxons having been converted to Christianity by Birinus, who was sent thither for that purpose by pope Honorius in 634, Cynegils, king of that province, appointed him bishop Wandsworth, and Merton, in the county of Surrey and diocese of Winchester were to be, from and after the next avoidance of the see of Winchester, detached from that diocese and annexed to that 1 By order in council, dated VOL. III. B |