Religion and Literature in Western England, 600–800

Describes the early conversion to Christianity of the pagan peoples of an area stretching from Stratford-upon-Avon to Offa's Dyke.

Patrick Sims-Williams (Author)

9780521673426, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 30 June 2005

468 pages
22.9 x 15.3 x 3 cm, 0.727 kg

Even the Venerable Bede knew little about the two Anglo-Saxon kingdoms described in this book. In the sixth and seventh centuries the pagan peoples of the Hwicce and Magonsaetan occupied the frontier from Stratford-upon-Avon as far as the Welsh kingdoms west of Offa's Dyke. They retained their own kings, aristocracy and independent monasteries into the eighth century. Using archaeological, place-name and historical sources, Dr Sims-Williams describes the early conversion to Christianity of these people, the origins of the dioceses of Worcester and Hereford, and the precocious growth of Anglo-Saxon monasticism. Drawing on many neglected documents he reveals a wide range of Continental, Irish and Anglo-Saxon influences on the church and shows that the monasteries were as varied in character as the Northumbrian foundations described by Bede.

List of illustrations
Preface
List of abbreviations
1. Introduction
2. The kingdoms of the Hwicce and the Magonsaetan
3. Paganism and Christianity
4. Early influences on the church
5. Varieties of monasticism
6. The eighth-century church
7. Biblical study
8. Letter-writing
9. The unseen world: the monk of Wenlock's vision
10. Prayer and magic
11. Milred, Cuthbert and Anglo-Latin poetry
12. The church and the landscape
13. Conclusion
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500 [HBLC], British & Irish history [HBJD1]