Tag: conversion

Roman Wales

The first thing to note about Roman rule in Wales is that it started in 48 AD, a few years later than in England, which is a consequence of the Claudian invasion having started in Kent. It is likely to have finished a little earlier too, in about 383, as the general Maximus Magnus sought… Continue reading Roman Wales

Sutton Hoo – the missing link?

The Wuffingas, Raedwald in particular, lived in an era when such royal dynasties transitioned from paganism to Christianity. Digging in detail at Suttton Hoo, this time by school children and assisted by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to build on the knowledge we already have, is carrying on and seems to have located a hybrid temple.… Continue reading Sutton Hoo – the missing link?

King Aethelwold, the Venerable Bede and the new excavations at Rendlesham….

  Nowadays Rendlesham (the Forest) is often regarded as the site of Britain’s Roswell, but that’s a very recent development because it’s also where “Archaeologists have uncovered a 1,400-year-old royal Hall of the first Kings of East Anglia in Suffolk, England.” The site was apparently first spotted from the air in 2015….but was first mentioned… Continue reading King Aethelwold, the Venerable Bede and the new excavations at Rendlesham….

This Union: The Ghost Kingdoms of England

This is an excellent series on BBC4 about the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms that eventually evolved to fill the vacuum left by departure of the Roman legions. In the first episode, Ian Hislop visits East Anglia, particularly Colchester, Ipswich and Sutton Hoo, viewing some coins with Philip Wise and hearing about the Wuffingas, apparently descended from a… Continue reading This Union: The Ghost Kingdoms of England

A holy Anglo-Saxon family

The best known Wuffing king of East Anglia was Raedwald, who is almost certainly buried at Sutton Hoo, in a transitional style that befits a convert to Christianity. Anna (male despite the name) was his nephew and eventual successor and no fewer than four of his daughters, together with his son, were canonised. Among Raedwald’s… Continue reading A holy Anglo-Saxon family

The truth about the Christian New Year’s Eve….

New Year’s Eve now and New Year’s Eve in the mediaeval period actually refer to two different calendar days. Old New Year’s Eve was 24th March. For an easy-to-understand explanation, please go to here, but whichever the day, it was still New Year’s Eve. We now celebrate it with much fun, laughter and hope, but… Continue reading The truth about the Christian New Year’s Eve….