Felix of Burgundy - Bishop of The East Angles

Bishop of The East Angles

Soon after his arrival at Sigeberht's court, Felix established a church at Dommoc, his episcopal see, which is widely taken to mean Dunwich, on the Suffolk coast. Dunwich has since been almost totally destroyed by the effects of coastal erosion. Other historians have suggested as an alternative site for Felix's see the coastal Walton, Suffolk near Felixstowe, where there was once a Roman fort. A church and priory were dedicated to him there by Roger Bigod in 1105.

Bede related that Felix started a school, "where boys could be taught letters", to provide Sigeberht with teachers. There is no evidence that Felix's school was at Soham, as is maintained by later sources. Bede is unclear as to the origin of the teachers at the school that was established, who may have been from Kent itself or similar to those who were to be found in Kent. The Liber Eliensis mentioned that he also founded the abbey at Soham, in Cambridgeshire and a church at Reedham in Norfolk: "Indeed, one reads in an English source that St Felix was the original founder of the old monastery of Sehem and of the church at Redham". According to Margaret Gallyon, the large size of the East Anglian diocese would have made the foundation of a second religious establishment at Soham "appear very probable".

During his years as bishop, the East Anglian Church was made still stronger when Fursey arrived from Ireland and founded a monastery, at Cnobheresburg, probably located at Burgh Castle, in Norfolk.