Who brought Christianity to Britain ?

chughes

While watching the departure of the Pope from Birmingham Airport on Sky News this evening, one of the commentators stated that Christianity had been brought to Britain by St Augustine.

We were always led to believe here in Ireland that it was Irish monks who brought Christianity to Britain.

Is this one of those historical debatable issues or is there an actual answer to the question ?

Manach

My understanding AFAIR was that when the Romans converted under Constaine, Britain went Christian was is was the imperial religion. When the Romans withdrew in the 5th Century, Christianity was extingushed by the barbarian invasions except in the Celtic Fringes, until re-introduced to by St. Augustine. Irish monks were active in some old Roman British provinces as well at the time of St. Augustine, though had a differing rite from Rome's.

chughes

When I was in primary school (admittedly a long time ago) we were taught that while Europe was in the grip of the Dark Ages after the fall of the Roman Empire, Ireland was a beacon of light and learning and that Irish monks brought Christianity first to Britain and then into Europe.

It now sounds like someone was being economical with the facts back in my primary school days.

georgieporgy

This St Augustine of Canterbury (6th century), should be distinguished from the more famous St Augustine of Hippo (4th century).

http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1396

zoomtard

Augustine "brought" Christianity to Britain in the way Patrick "brought" it to Ireland. Britain was a Roman territory and obviously had Christianity long before Augustine arrived. The Irish Christians are not responsible for the Christianisation of Britain.

santing

I wrote an article on that topic once...

http://www.irishchristian.net/history/Britain.html

getz

santing wrote: »

I wrote an article on that topic once...

http://www.irishchristian.net/history/Britain.html

from then on,things went downhill,i blame the irish

branie

I also assumed that it was Augustine of Canterbury