The Christian Church in These Islands before the Coming of Augustine Three Lectures Delivered at St. Paul's in January 1894

These lectures take listeners back to the dawn of Christianity on the British Isles, before Augustine’s famous mission. Drawing on archaeological finds, Roman records, and early legends, the speaker maps the spread of faith among the Kentish peoples, the role of figures such as Bishop Luidhard and Queen Bertha, and the mysterious connections linking St. Paul, Joseph of Arimathea, and Glastonbury. The first talk also explores the cultural identity of the Britons and the lingering Roman churches that dotted Canterbury’s countryside.

The remaining sessions widen the view, comparing Britain’s early Christian contacts with those of Gaul and highlighting the work of missionaries like Ninian, Palladius, Patrick, and Columba across Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Cornwall. Listeners will hear about distinctive rites, early bishops at continental councils, and the persistent yet fragile Christian communities that survived long before the Gregorian mission arrived. The series offers a concise, scholarly tour of a largely forgotten chapter of English religious history.