Early British ChristianitySt. Alban

Britain’s 1st Martyr, 3rd CenturyVerulamium – St. Albans, Hertfordshire

St. Patrick5th Century; from Northwest BritainOf High Roman FamilySlave in, Missionary to Ireland

PelagiusBritain’s 1st Heretic, c. 400Theological Opposition to Augustine(Original Sin & Christian Grace)

Romano-British Christianity WidespreadConstantine & Council of Nicea (325)

The Decapitation of St. Alban

Anglo-Saxon Invasion & Christianity5th Century Britain

End of an Era; Beginning of Another

Enter the GermansDisplacing Native CultureResistance & CooperationRegional Kingdoms

Christianity Strikes BackVariety of Christian CustomsMonastic Foundations; MissionariesNorthern InitiativesSouthern Initiatives

Consolidation of the ChurchEcclesiastical CustomsStructure of the Church; Link to Rome

5th Century BritainThe End of Roman Britain

Retreat of the EmpireDecline in Trade, Wealth; Economics (£)Latin Language & Civic LifeReassertion of Local Chieftains/KingsMoving Back to the Hillforts

Continuous ElementsChristianity (esp. in the North)Some Cities (e.g. York, Canterbury)

A Period of Flux Empires don’t just “End”Mystery (Sources are Later)

Wroxeter (Viroconium), Shropshire

Enter the GermansThe Coming of the Barbarians, c. 450-

600Several Hundred Thousand PeoplePrevious Contact (Raiding, Warfare)Angles, Saxons, Jutes; Swedes, FrisiansDisplacing Native Cultures

Cooperation & Resistance Vortigern, German Mercenaries 5th cent; KentArthur, Mt. Badon c. 510; SouthwestLegend? Myth? Significance?

Rapid Expanse & Regional KingdomsPolitical Vacuum; Decentralized BritishPushing British Authorities North & West

The Brut Chronicle, mid-14th cent., Univ. Manchester, English MS 103. (NB: There are many copies of the Brut Chronicle, which dates from the late 13th cent.)

Early Anglo-Saxon KingdomsRegional Powers

KentSussex, Essex, WessexNorfolk, SuffolkMerciaBernicia, Deira (N.umbria)

Celtic FringeCornwallWalesScotland

6th Century German Culture

Christianity RedivivusVariety of Christian Customs

Localities RemovedLack of Contact w/ Mainland

Missionaries & MonasteriesPatrick: Ireland (5th)Columba: Iona (mid-6th)Benedict Biscop: Wearmouth, Jarrow (674/81)

Northern InitiativesEdwin & Oswald of Northumbria

Southern InitiativesGregory the Great, 597Augustine to Ethelbert of Kent

Spread of Christianity by 680s (Sussex)

Key Early Christian Foundations

Lindisfarne Gospels (c. 715); Book of Kells (c. 800)

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Consolidation of the ChurchDifferences Northern/Southern

Ecclesiastical CustomsDating of Easter (Calendars)Monastic TonsureSynod of Whitby, 664Oswy of Northumbria

Church StructureDiocesian ReorganizationPrimacy of CanterburySynod of Hertford, 673Wilfrid, Bp. York; Theodore, Abp. Cant.

Centralization of Church PowerCanterbury; York; London; WinchesterLink to Rome

Whitby Abbey, Ruins