CHRISTIANITY IN ENGLAND.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20199, 30 March 1931, Page 8

CHRISTIANITY IN ENGLAND.

f r • * ».' '-ST. AUGUSTINE'S MISSION. . The coming of Christianity'to England was the subject of *a sermon' by the Rev. J. R. Hervey at ot. Stephen's Chiireh, Shirley, yesterday "morning. Although it was .generally thought that St. Augustine had first preached ,the Gospel in Britain, he'said this was* not' actually true; ' ' " Y -< v ', Before the year l 2oQA.D. , it 4 v had come' to Britain,' where there" was a properly organised branch ,ofcths Church., Whether it .had come through the Roman legions, or through travel--lers,. -tvas not Known, ; but ; this Church had at least one martyr—Stj: Alban, who was executed by Dipcletian: Alter' the- withdrawal *of the-' legions \th*e Geraaniefcribes had. drivenvthh Britonsto lake refuge:in Cotnwall in' Wales, so that Christianity .no 'longer existed m England itself. ?; »- I , • >,'* , -In 697- A.3>. < Bthelbert, ~ Bang; of; Kjrfrtt, i had -married.- a v Prankish Christian-wife, who,had taken a -private, chaplain with Wr to .Kent. Later Gregory's interest' in England had b«rti aroused, by the -sight of/Aiigliaii children 1 in -Jlome,. and *Et. : Augustine had-been sent at th 4 head of a'mission to England. He had been 11 -well reeved'. I>y Egbert, who and' Aip lead. Augustine had bw&me .Aha fli old British church had built his imi":

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