Origin and Early History of Christianity in Britain

The Origin and Early History of Christianity in Britain by Andrew Gray, D.D. Foundations are necessarily out of sight. The beginnings of history are no exception to this rule. Legend, myth and fable often cover them up, and as often the scanty contributions which the makers of nations and pioneer missionaries are able to bequeath to posterity of what they have done, leave their lives and labours in obscurity. Added to this, in rude, rought times there are wars to desolate, and conquests to obliterate, which destroy down to the ground. No ruins even suggest to the beholder that there are crypts beneath. These reflections come to one when he contemplates the history of Christianity in Britain, prior to the arrival of Augustine, as revealing the foundations on which the splendid and massive superstructure of the Anglican Communion rests. Augustine began his work above ground, or, if not precisely that, he was fortunate in having a sympathizing hand in the Venerable Bede, who industriously preserved a record of his labours and of those of his colleagues and successors, so that what he and his associates and followers wrought and suffered has been kept continuously before the eyes of men.