In 664, King Oswiu of Northumbria called a church synod at Whitby. Some Christians in his realm had been taught by Irish missionaries, some by Roman, and there were quarrels, especially on the date of Easter. When the King found that the Romans traced their customs to St Peter, and the Irish only to St Columba, he backed the Roman side.

Although the matters in dispute may seem trivial, the consequences were not. Historian J. R. Green pointed to the problems experienced by the Irish church and kingdoms in after years, and argued that the English would have suffered the same fate had they not opted for Roman government and a connection to the wider world.

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