In the beginningIn the beginning:

• Christianity was adopted by Europe with its adoption Christianity was adopted by Europe with its adoption by Constantine, the emperor of Rome in the early 4th by Constantine, the emperor of Rome in the early 4th centurycentury

• Because Rome was the center of the enlightened Because Rome was the center of the enlightened World, Christianity spread all over, including to the World, Christianity spread all over, including to the Islands of BritainIslands of Britain

• However, its presence would only linger as the However, its presence would only linger as the Romans withdrew from the British Isles as they faced Romans withdrew from the British Isles as they faced incursions by Germanic Tribes.incursions by Germanic Tribes.

Anglo-Saxon RomeAnglo-Saxon Rome

• As the Romans left, the Isles became vulnerable and As the Romans left, the Isles became vulnerable and Anglo-Saxons found it easy to take the territoryAnglo-Saxons found it easy to take the territory

• Originally, most Germanic tribes were Arian Originally, most Germanic tribes were Arian Christians until they were converted to Catholicism by Christians until they were converted to Catholicism by missionariesmissionaries

Missionaries and Important PeopleMissionaries and Important People

• These missionaries were commissioned by Pope These missionaries were commissioned by Pope Gregory the Great in 597 ADGregory the Great in 597 AD

• One of the missionaries was St. Augustine, who One of the missionaries was St. Augustine, who succeeded in converting Kent and Essexsucceeded in converting Kent and Essex

• St. Patrick preached Christianity in Ireland in the late St. Patrick preached Christianity in Ireland in the late 5th century5th century

Missionaries and Important People: Missionaries and Important People: Ethelbert and BerthaEthelbert and Bertha

• Bertha, a Merovingian Princess, brought with her Bertha, a Merovingian Princess, brought with her Bishop Liudhard, who restored an old Roman Bishop Liudhard, who restored an old Roman Church for use by the Anglo-SaxonsChurch for use by the Anglo-Saxons

• However, as King Ethelbert passed so did the However, as King Ethelbert passed so did the regionregion’’s faith, as his son Eadbald took the throne s faith, as his son Eadbald took the throne and returned to the old Pagan ways of his people.and returned to the old Pagan ways of his people.

• It wasnIt wasn’’t until King Eorcenberht, Son of Eadbald, t until King Eorcenberht, Son of Eadbald, that Paganism was outlawed and Christianity was that Paganism was outlawed and Christianity was established as the Kingdomestablished as the Kingdom’’s permanent religion.s permanent religion.

Good King EdwinGood King Edwin

• There was the Good King Edwin, who, much like the There was the Good King Edwin, who, much like the conversion of King Aethelbert, was converted by his conversion of King Aethelbert, was converted by his wife, Princess Ethelburga of Kent, daughter of King wife, Princess Ethelburga of Kent, daughter of King AethelbertAethelbert

• Shrewd at the beginning, Edwin saw the light of Shrewd at the beginning, Edwin saw the light of Christ after he was plagued by terrible visions, until Christ after he was plagued by terrible visions, until he uncharacteristically submitted to conversion.he uncharacteristically submitted to conversion.

This is Niall Horan he’s Irish and you’re welcome

Bishop Aidan and Others

• Leading up to his death in 651, Aidan was successful in the attraction of new members and the building of new Churches and Monasteries, drawing attention all the way from Iona

• Both St. Wilfrid and Archbishop Theodore of Tarsus focused on the establishment of monasteries

• Most monasteries were centers of local religion, but also were centers of learning and scholarship

• Monks in Anglo-Saxon monasteries often worked as scribes, producing copies of the Bible and other religious works

King Oswy

• The worship of Christ continued with King Oswy assuming the throne of the Northumbrian Court from King Edwin, which he had to reclaim after Edwin had been usurped by a pagan King

• In 664, King Oswy convened with a group of clergy and adopted Roman doctrine and therefore associated England with the Roman Catholic church

• It was at this Synod of Whitby that King Oswy chose to side with Rome rather than the Irish Monks

• He who had helped Oswy covert his people to Christianity was Bishop Aidan, who, knowing no English, was aided by the King in explaining Christianity to his subjects

Works Cited

• http://faculty.history.wisc.edu/sommerville/123/123%206%20anglo-saxons%20iii.htm

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_Christianity• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Constantine_the_Great_and_Christianity • https://sites.google.com/site/englishliteratureatschool/the-old-

english-period/runes• http://www.durhamworldheritagesite.com/history/benedictine-

order/spreading-christianity http://www.academia.edu/3727157/Anglo-Saxon_Christianity_the_Role_of_Kings_in_Englands_Conversion

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/history/uk_1.shtml