In the session we started to look at the impact of the arrival of Christianity to Britain
1/. According to the early histories, Christianity reached Rome in the year 60 CE, when Paul arrived to preach the gospel. Christianity reached Britain in the late 200s CE, during the years of Roman occupation. With the end of the occupation in the early 400s and the arrival of pagan Angles, Saxons and Jutes, Christianity declined in the south east and eastern parts of the country, but continued in the west.
In the year 597 Pope Gregory in Rome sent Augustine on a mission to convert the pagans in Kent. Roman-style Christianity slowly expanded in the south east and east, while British/Celtic Christianity remained strong in the west. Up until the eighth century, the British church remained independent of Rome.
2/. According to the folklore tradition (as opposed to the historical account) Christianity reached Britain in a number of different ways:-
i/. Long before St Augustine’s mission, Christianity was brought to Britain by St Paul (version favoured by the British church).
ii/. Long before St Augustine’s mission, Christianity was brought to Britain by Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph founded the first church in Britain at Glastonbury (version favoured by the British church).
iii/. Long before St Augustine’s mission, Pope Eleutherius in Rome sent St Fagan and St Dyfan to Britain. They revived Jospeh’s church at Glastonbury and spread the faith from there (favoured by the Roman church).
iv/. Christianity was brought to Britain by the Welsh princess Elen of the Hosts (version favoured by the British church).
The British church favoured versions i, ii, & iv because they cut the Roman church out of the picture. The Roman church favoured iv because it gave the credit of spreading the faith through the country to Fagan and Dyfan.
Last Updated on May 4, 2024