The uniquely Celtic variety of Christianity spread throughout the British Isles very quickly, covering Ireland and most of Great Britain from the middle of the fifth century to the middle of the seventh. At the same time, continental Europe was getting its civilized feet back under it with the structure and stability provided by the Roman Church. As both varieties of our common Faith spread, it was inevitable that they would eventually meet up.
In 597 two critical events took place. First, St. Columcille, who had brought the Gospel to the Scots of Dalriada and the northern Picts from his monastic base on Iona, died. Then an emissary of Rome, St. Augustine, landed on the southern shores of Kent among the pagan Saxons. The monastic federation based at Iona had been spreading eastward and southward. The Roman practices spread northward from the south. They met in seventh century Northumbria.
King Oswy had been following the Celtic practice for most of his life. His queen, however, followed the Roman practice. This wasn't too much trouble, except at the end of lent. The Celts and the Romans followed different formulae for computing the date of Easter. This meant that sometimes King Oswy would be breaking his Lenten fast a week or more before his queen. To resolve the conflict he called for a Synod - a meeting of the Church leaders - at the monastery of Whitby. The meeting highlighted the differences developed over the preceding two hundred years and proved decisive for the future of the Church among the Celts. |
