Christianity Came into Britain Before Rome

[Jero]

The coming of Christianity to Britain
Rome has always taken the centre stage in the western religion, yet, it boasts of preeminence of antiquity is mere propaganda, with no historicity to its claim or claims.  However, in Cymru/Wales, the tradition of our forefathers is best said in the words of the ancient Welsh cleric, Gildas the Wise (500-570), in his work De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae wrote: 
Meanwhile, these islands, stiff with cold and frost, and in a distant region of the world, remote from the visible sun, received the beams of light, that is, the holy precepts of Christ, the true Sun [in the original].  Showing to the whole world his splendour, not only from the temporal firmament, but from the height of heaven, which surpasses everything temporal.  At the latter part, as we know, of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, by whom his religion was propagated without impediment, and death threatened to those who interfered with its professors.
Gildas was referring to Chestianity coming into this Isle from the latter part of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (14-37 CE).  The great Catholic scholar, Cardinal Caesar Baronius (1538-1607), dated in his works Annales Ecclesiastici the coming of the evangelist to preach to the ancient Brythoniad/Britons in the year 35 CE.  
Whether they were apostle or just traders from the eastern Mediterranean area, who had come to Britain trading for Tin, Copper, and Gold for the last 4,000 Years.  The world's largest prehistoric mine, ar y Gogarth/Great Orme copper mine in Llandudno, is proof of the ancient trading of these metals.
However, the Church of England (CoE) has jumped on the bandwagon to claim preeminence of the British over Rome.  Claimed by the CoE: The roots of the Church of England go back to the time of the Roman Empire, when a Christian church came into existence in what was then the Roman province of Britain.  Historically incorrect, and immoral for the CoE to do so, to use that title when they know history says otherwise.  The forebears of the modern English, who spoke several variants of Englisce, and Seaxna, consisted of a plethora (close to 20) of divers Germanic tribes that came into Prydain from 449 CE to 1066, according to their Saxon Chronicle.  With the first Germanic's, the Iudæ/Jyder/Jutes, being baptized in 601 CE, by Augustine (d. 605) the emissary of Gregory I (590-604) bishop of Rome.  Who was allowed by the great Jutish king, *Æðelberht I of Cantwara/Kent (550-616) to Christen his people.  *Æðelberht I, son of Octa, and grandson of Hengest/Hengist of Beowulf, and the Finnesburgh Fragment fame, and first king of Cantwara.
It is essential first to note the following historical context: The Prydeinig/British Church has Primacy—not the English (or the Roman) Church. There was no England at this time—simply Prydain/Britanniae. The Bishops were British from the Celtic Church, and not Anglo-Saxons*/or Scoti-Gael. The three ancient Bishoprics or Archbishoprics were: Llandaff, Llundain (London), and Caerleon.  
*(Anglo-Saxon is a term since the late 1800s that has wrongly been applied to cover-all the Germanic tribes that entered Britain from 449 CE. The term only applies to the insular Saxons, not the Angles, and not the Jutes.  Moreover, the origin is the Saxon Chronicle, not the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.)
The evidence from the Church-Fathers:

Origen: “The land of Britain has received the religion of Christ.”

Tertullian: wrote: “The extremities of Spain, the various parts of Gaul, the regions of Britain which have never been penetrated by Roman arms have received the religion of Christ.” (Tertullian Def. Fidel, p. 179). 

Hippolytus: one of the most learned Christian historians, identifies the seventy whom Jesus sent in Luke 10, and includes Aristobulus listed in Romans 16:10 with Joseph and states that he ended up becoming a Pastor in Britain.

Eusebius of Caesarea wrote: “The Apostles passed beyond the ocean to the Isles called the Britannic Isles.” (De Demonstratione Evangelii, Lib iii).

… A good example is his statement in Demonstratio Evangelica, or The Proof of the Gospel (3.5.112), that some apostles preached the gospel in “the land of the Isles of Britain.” Where did Eusebius get this information? Possibly from now-lost books (such as the second-century Concerning the Origin of the British Church by Elvanus, whose names are occasionally found in various ancient works…. Ivor C. Fletcher and Peter Nathan)
https://www.vision.org/biography-eusebi ... istory-434.

Dorotheus bishop of Tyre: A learned priest said AD 303: “Aristobulus, whom Paul; saluted, writing to the Romans (Romans 16:10) was Bishop of Britain.”(Synopsis de Apostol, Synops 23 “Aristobulus”).  

Athanasius of Alexandria: writing AD 353, describes the Churches of Britain as adhering to the faith of the Council of Nicaea, AD 325. (vide Ussher. De Brit. Ecc. Primord. Cap viii).

Theodoret the Blessed: said: “Paul, liberated from his first captivity at Rome, preached the Gospel to the Britons and others in the West. Our fishermen and publicans not only persuaded the Romans and their tributaries to acknowledge the Crucified and His laws, but the Britons/the Cymry” [the Welsh]. (D. Civ. Gracae Off. Lib. IX).

John Chrysostom, patriarch of Constantinople: describes the Churches of Britain as adhering to the faith of the Council of Nicaea, AD 325. (vide Ussher. De Brit. Ecc. Primord. Cap viii), etc, etc. 

The British Bishops, Eborius of York, Restitutus of London and Adelfius of Caerleon were present at the Church Council of Arles to AD 314. British Bishops were also present at the Councils of Nicaea, 325 CE, Sardica in Illyria, 347 CE, and Ariminium in Italy, 359 CE. (Mansi, Concilia. Vol. II, pp. 476-477. Haddan & Stubbs, Vol. I, p.7). 

Augustine (d. 605) on his arrival in Britain is shocked to find Christianity already in Britain, but a different religion to that of Rome.  We have his letter to his Bishop of Rome, asking for assistance on what to do!

Augustine's third question: Since there is but one faith, why are the uses of Churches so different, one use of Mass being observed in the Roman Church, and another in the Churches of Gaul*? Philip Schaff, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Series II, Vol. 13, Registrum Epistolarum (Gregory the Great), Book XI, Letter 64

*Gaul in this context means Celt-Gaul/Brython/Briton/Welsh.  In the Romance languages of Europe, the Welsh are still referred to as the Gaul.  The French still refer to the Welsh as Gallois (Gauls) and Wales as Pays de Galles (land of the Gauls).  Yet in the West Germanic languages (English, Scots, German, Dutch, Danish, etc.) of today, Welsh still means “foreigner” in Germanic.

What do you say, should the indigenous people of Britain be recognized as having the first Church in the West, as they once had that privilege?

For Jeanne (pronounced Sz-ahn)
Cofion

 

[Leucius Charinus]

What do you say, should the indigenous people of Britain be recognized as having the first Church in the West, as they once had that privilege?

I'd require some archaeological evidence.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinton_St_Mary_Mosaic

Looks like Constantine to me.

[mlinssen]

The coming of Christianity to Britain
Rome has always taken the centre stage in the western religion, yet, it boasts of preeminence of antiquity is mere propaganda, with no historicity to its claim or claims.  However, in Cymru/Wales, the tradition of our forefathers is best said in the words of the ancient Welsh cleric, Gildas the Wise (500-570), in his work De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae wrote: 
Meanwhile, these islands, stiff with cold and frost, and in a distant region of the world, remote from the visible sun, received the beams of light, that is, the holy precepts of Christ, the true Sun [in the original].  Showing to the whole world his splendour, not only from the temporal firmament, but from the height of heaven, which surpasses everything temporal.  At the latter part, as we know, of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, by whom his religion was propagated without impediment, and death threatened to those who interfered with its professors.
Gildas was referring to Chestianity coming into this Isle from the latter part of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (14-37 CE).  The great Catholic scholar, Cardinal Caesar Baronius (1538-1607), dated in his works Annales Ecclesiastici the coming of the evangelist to preach to the ancient Brythoniad/Britons in the year 35 CE.  
Whether they were apostle or just traders from the eastern Mediterranean area, who had come to Britain trading for Tin, Copper, and Gold for the last 4,000 Years.  The world's largest prehistoric mine, ar y Gogarth/Great Orme copper mine in Llandudno, is proof of the ancient trading of these metals.
However, the Church of England (CoE) has jumped on the bandwagon to claim preeminence of the British over Rome.  Claimed by the CoE: The roots of the Church of England go back to the time of the Roman Empire, when a Christian church came into existence in what was then the Roman province of Britain.  Historically incorrect, and immoral for the CoE to do so, to use that title when they know history says otherwise.  The forebears of the modern English, who spoke several variants of Englisce, and Seaxna, consisted of a plethora (close to 20) of divers Germanic tribes that came into Prydain from 449 CE to 1066, according to their Saxon Chronicle.  With the first Germanic's, the Iudæ/Jyder/Jutes, being baptized in 601 CE, by Augustine (d. 605) the emissary of Gregory I (590-604) bishop of Rome.  Who was allowed by the great Jutish king, *Æðelberht I of Cantwara/Kent (550-616) to Christen his people.  *Æðelberht I, son of Octa, and grandson of Hengest/Hengist of Beowulf, and the Finnesburgh Fragment fame, and first king of Cantwara.
It is essential first to note the following historical context: The Prydeinig/British Church has Primacy—not the English (or the Roman) Church. There was no England at this time—simply Prydain/Britanniae. The Bishops were British from the Celtic Church, and not Anglo-Saxons*/or Scoti-Gael. The three ancient Bishoprics or Archbishoprics were: Llandaff, Llundain (London), and Caerleon.  
*(Anglo-Saxon is a term since the late 1800s that has wrongly been applied to cover-all the Germanic tribes that entered Britain from 449 CE. The term only applies to the insular Saxons, not the Angles, and not the Jutes.  Moreover, the origin is the Saxon Chronicle, not the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.)
The evidence from the Church-Fathers:

Origen: “The land of Britain has received the religion of Christ.”

Tertullian: wrote: “The extremities of Spain, the various parts of Gaul, the regions of Britain which have never been penetrated by Roman arms have received the religion of Christ.” (Tertullian Def. Fidel, p. 179). 

Hippolytus: one of the most learned Christian historians, identifies the seventy whom Jesus sent in Luke 10, and includes Aristobulus listed in Romans 16:10 with Joseph and states that he ended up becoming a Pastor in Britain.

Eusebius of Caesarea wrote: “The Apostles passed beyond the ocean to the Isles called the Britannic Isles.” (De Demonstratione Evangelii, Lib iii).

… A good example is his statement in Demonstratio Evangelica, or The Proof of the Gospel (3.5.112), that some apostles preached the gospel in “the land of the Isles of Britain.” Where did Eusebius get this information? Possibly from now-lost books (such as the second-century Concerning the Origin of the British Church by Elvanus, whose names are occasionally found in various ancient works…. Ivor C. Fletcher and Peter Nathan)
https://www.vision.org/biography-eusebi ... istory-434.

Dorotheus bishop of Tyre: A learned priest said AD 303: “Aristobulus, whom Paul; saluted, writing to the Romans (Romans 16:10) was Bishop of Britain.”(Synopsis de Apostol, Synops 23 “Aristobulus”).  

Athanasius of Alexandria: writing AD 353, describes the Churches of Britain as adhering to the faith of the Council of Nicaea, AD 325. (vide Ussher. De Brit. Ecc. Primord. Cap viii).

Theodoret the Blessed: said: “Paul, liberated from his first captivity at Rome, preached the Gospel to the Britons and others in the West. Our fishermen and publicans not only persuaded the Romans and their tributaries to acknowledge the Crucified and His laws, but the Britons/the Cymry” [the Welsh]. (D. Civ. Gracae Off. Lib. IX).

John Chrysostom, patriarch of Constantinople: describes the Churches of Britain as adhering to the faith of the Council of Nicaea, AD 325. (vide Ussher. De Brit. Ecc. Primord. Cap viii), etc, etc. 

The British Bishops, Eborius of York, Restitutus of London and Adelfius of Caerleon were present at the Church Council of Arles to AD 314. British Bishops were also present at the Councils of Nicaea, 325 CE, Sardica in Illyria, 347 CE, and Ariminium in Italy, 359 CE. (Mansi, Concilia. Vol. II, pp. 476-477. Haddan & Stubbs, Vol. I, p.7). 

Augustine (d. 605) on his arrival in Britain is shocked to find Christianity already in Britain, but a different religion to that of Rome.  We have his letter to his Bishop of Rome, asking for assistance on what to do!

Augustine's third question: Since there is but one faith, why are the uses of Churches so different, one use of Mass being observed in the Roman Church, and another in the Churches of Gaul*? Philip Schaff, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Series II, Vol. 13, Registrum Epistolarum (Gregory the Great), Book XI, Letter 64

*Gaul in this context means Celt-Gaul/Brython/Briton/Welsh.  In the Romance languages of Europe, the Welsh are still referred to as the Gaul.  The French still refer to the Welsh as Gallois (Gauls) and Wales as Pays de Galles (land of the Gauls).  Yet in the West Germanic languages (English, Scots, German, Dutch, Danish, etc.) of today, Welsh still means “foreigner” in Germanic.

What do you say, should the indigenous people of Britain be recognized as having the first Church in the West, as they once had that privilege?

For Jeanne (pronounced Sz-ahn)
Cofion

 

The oldest manuscript of the De Excidio is Cottonian MS. Vitellius A. VI, of the eleventh century, damaged by fire in 1731, but used by Theodor Mommsen in his edition nevertheless

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Exci ... Britanniae

Please do realise that the Churchian industry dates their own very eagerly as early as possible, and everything else as late as possible

Never trust any claim made until you have verified it

[andrewcriddle]

Hippolytus: one of the most learned Christian historians, identifies the seventy whom Jesus sent in Luke 10, and includes Aristobulus listed in Romans 16:10 with Joseph and states that he ended up becoming a Pastor in Britain.

On the Apostles and Disciples is attributed to Hippolytus (early 3rd century) but is almost certainly by a writer several centuries later.

Andrew Criddle