Perhaps it was not long after this that Christianity made its way to
Britain; if so, it crept in so silently that nothing certain can be
learned of its advent. The first church, it is said, was built at
Glastonbury, in the southeast of the island. (See map facing p. 38.)
It was a long, shedlike structure of wickerwork. "Here," says an old
writer,[1] "the converts watched, fasted, preached, and prayed, having
high meditations under a low roof and large hearts within narrow
walls."
[1] Thomas Fuller's "Church History of Britain."
At first no notice was taken of the new religion. It was the faith of
the poor and the obscure, and the Roman generals treated it with
contempt; but as it continued to spread, it caused alarm.
The Roman Emperor was not only the head of the state, but the head of
religion as well. He represented the power of God on earth: to him
every knee must bow (S21). But the Christians refused this homage.
They put Christ first; for that reason they were dagerous to the
state, and were looked--[SECTION MISSING]--rebels, or as men likely to
become so.
25. Persecution of British Christians; [SECTION MISSING]
________________
last of the third century the Roman Emperor / \
root out this pernicious belief. The first | |
He refused to sacrifice to the Roman | |
| |
But the ancient historian[2] says, with | SECTION |
executioner who struck "the wicked stroke | MISSING |
rejoice over the deed, for his eyes dropped | |
together with the blessed martyr's head | |
later the magnificent abbey of St. Albans | |
commemorate him who had fallen there. \________________/
[2] Bede's "Ecclesiastical History of Britain," completed about the
year 731.
[3] St. Albans: twenty miles northwest of London. (See map facing
p. 16.)