On Sigeberht's request, Oswiu dispatched missionaries to evangelise the East Anglians. The party was led by Cedd, freshly recalled from his missionary work among the Middle Angles, and three companion priests. Their efforts were thought to have been so fruitful that when Cedd visited Finan in Lindisfarne, he was consecrated Bishop of Essex. Cedd went on to found communities at "Tilaburg" (probably East Tilbury) and "Ithancester" (almost certainly Bradwell-on-Sea). These activities brought about an extension of the authority of the church of Lindisfarne into the south, which has been regarded as "redolent of an opportunistic Bernician colonisation of the region".