Page:The Church of England, its catholicity and continuity.djvu/44

 opposed in spite of Wilfrid's protection at Rome. Theodore pursued his own course. He knew what ought to be done, and he fought through opposition to accomplish it. Theodore had quarrels with Wilfrid, because he wished to divide Wilfrid's See without having consulted him on the matter. In this trouble Wilfrid appealed to the Pope. But the Archbishop went his own way. Shortly before his death, in the year 690, he and Wilfrid were reconciled again.

In his desire to preserve the unity of the Church Theodore was often urged to take strong measures. Another instance of this was seen in his treatment of Chad, the Bishop of Lindisfarne. On coming to England the Archbishop thought that he saw a flaw in Chad's consecration, and as a result of this he deposed the saintly Chad from his See. "I will willingly resign my See," Chad said, "if you consider I have not received the Episcopate rightly, of which I never thought myself worthy, but which I undertook for the sake of obedience to command."

Theodore lived long enough to learn that Chad was worthy of a Bishopric, and, after seeing that he was canonically consecrated, he appointed him to the See of Lichfield.

Of course Theodore had his faults, but the Church owes to him a great debt of gratitude. If a man of his stamp had been sent to convert the English to the Faith, the history of our country must have taken a very different turn. Augustine's Mission was a failure as much through his own weakness of character as through the trying conditions of the time. He had not been in England long before he sent a letter to Gregory, asking his advice as to what should be done with