The Early Christians in Britain

Introduction 7
I THE BEGINNINGS IN ROMAN BRITAIN 9
 1. The Romans Arrive in Heathen Britain 11
 2. Christian Beginnings 19
 3. Christianity in Roman Britain 26
 4. Enemies—Spiritual and Material: Pelagius and the Saxons 30
II CELTIC CHRISTIANITY 37
 5. Christianity Survives in the West 39
 6. St Patrick: The Patron Saint of Ireland 45
 7. Three Celtic Saints: Kentigern, David and Columba 54
 8. Iona: Centre of Celtic Monasticism 60
III THE MEETING OF CELTIC AND ROMAN TRADITIONS 68
 9. Another Approach from Rome: Augustine 70
 10. Encouragement and Despair 74
 11. The Northern Mission 78
 12. Missions to East and South: Felix and Birinus 84
 13. King and Saint: Oswald and Aidan 89
 14. A United Church 95
IV ORGANISATION AND EXPANSION 102
 15. Organisation: Theodore 104
 16. Wilfrid of York 109
 17. Two Northumbrian Christians: Cuthbert and Benedict Biscop 120
 18. A Great Historian: Bede of Jarrow 126
 19. Books and Builders 134
 20. The Return to the Continent: Boniface 143
Important Dates 149
Further Reading 150
Archaeological Evidence 152
Index 154