Christianity in Roman Britain
Christianity was present in Roman Britain from at least the 3rd century. In 313, the Edict of Milan legalised Christianity, and it quickly became the … See more

Late 6th century: Æthelbert of Kent marries Bertha
In 595, when Pope Gregory I decided to send a mission to convert the Anglo-Saxons to … See more

c. 604–624: Rædwald's baptism and religious syncretism
At the beginning of the 7th century, Æthelberht of Kent had overlordship over the East Angles who were in turn ruled by Rædwald. As a client king, Rædwald was likely forced to … See more

c. 653–655: Peada's baptism and Penda's death
The year in which Penda became king of Mercia is … See more

Paganism and Christianity are often portrayed as distinct and in opposition by Church officials such as Bede, Ælfric and Wulfstan, with conversion corresponding in a dramatic shift from one to the other. In practice, while this may have been true in the sphere of … See more

c. 604–650: Baptism of Sæberht and heathen reaction from his sons
The first king of Essex to nominally convert to Christianity was Sæberht, who was baptised by Mellitus, one of Augstine's helpers, around 604 under the authority of … See more

c. 604–633: Eadwine's conversion and support of Christianity
c. 604–616: Exile and contact with Christian elites
Eadwine was born into the Deiran royal house around 586 and escaped from the kingdom when it … See more