Introduction

The subject of conversion is here examined with reference to Kirkdale, North Yorkshire, where we have been working since 1994. Kirkdale is the site of a historic church situated about 50 kms north-east of York in a long narrow valley on the north side of the Vale of Pickering, just to the south of the North York Moors (Fig. 18.1; Pl. 18.1). Here we have defined sculptural, epigraphic and historical evidence which relates to processes of conversion in Britain between the fourth and eleventh centuries AD. There is no modern village in the lower part of the valley, just the isolated church known as St Gregory's Minster (Watts et al. 1996–97, 6). This is famous for its sundial, set in the exterior wall of the church above the south door (Pl. 18.2). This carries a complete inscription in Old English, which has most recently been translated by Elisabeth Okasha as:

This is dated (by the reference to Earl Tosti and King Edward) to AD 1055–1065. St Gregory's is thus one of the few Anglo-Saxon churches in England with a close date for one phase of its building or rebuilding.

It is suggested that this mid-eleventh century rebuilding of St Gregory’s Minster is the final event in a long history of the use of the church area as a nucleus for religious activities, including human burial, possibly as early as the fourth century AD.

The three ages of conversion at Kirkdale which are to be discussed are, first, the fourth century (pagan Roman to Christian); second, the seventh–ninth centuries (‘pagan Germanic’ to Christian); by the latter date, we suggest Kirkdale was the site of an important Anglo-Saxon monastery; and, third, the late ninthearlier eleventh centuries (pagan Scandinavian to Christian); the last ultimately culminating in the rebuilding by Orm Gamalson.