Bede's portrayal of the king owes much to his interest in the conversion of the East Anglians. A pagan on his accession, Sigeberht was urged by Oswiu to renounce his beliefs and accept Christianity. Like Peada, he and his followers were baptised by Bishop Finan at one of Oswiu's estates called "Ad Murum" (presumably in the region of Hadrian's Wall, possibly Walbottle), 12 miles from the east coast. The ceremony may have taken place in 653 or 654, before Penda's attack.