Lambert - Christians and pagans: the conversion of Britain from Alban to Bede

CHRISTIANS AND PAGANS

CHRISTIANS
AND PAGANS

The Conversion of Britain from Alban to Bede

MALCOLM LAMBERT

YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS
NEW HAVEN AND LONDON

Copyright 2010 Malcolm Lambert

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lambert, Malcolm (Malcolm D.)

Christians and pagans: the conversion of Britain from Alban to Bede/Malcolm Lambert.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-0-300-11908-4 (cl: alk. paper)

1. Great BritainChurch historyTo 449. 2. Great BritainChurch history4491066. I. Title.

BR748.L36 2010

274.1'02dc22

2009052141

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

TO THE MEMORY OF

HUGH WILLIAMS

CHURCH HISTORIAN

18431911

1 Statue of Constantine, AD c.307312, Palazzo dei Conservatori, Rome. German Archaeological Institute (photo: Koppermann, Neg. D-DAI-Rom 1959.1716)

2 Hinton St Mary, detail of floor mosaic. The Trustees of the British Museum.

3, 4 and 5 Water Newton treasure. The Trustees of the British Museum.

6 Walesby lead tank, Lincolnshire. The Collection: Art and Archaeology in Lincolnshire.

7 Reconstruction of frieze on the Walesby lead tank. Courtesy of Charles Thomas.

8 Vortipor stone. Carmarthenshire County Museum.

9 Latin-inscribed stone, Llanllywenfel. National Museum of Wales.

10 Standing stone from Fardel. The Trustees of the British Museum.

11 Incised bone and bone pin, from Pool, Sanday. Orkney Library and Archive. Orkney Islands Council.

12 Mains of Afforsk, near Kemnay, Aberdeenshire. RCAHMS.

13 Reverse of cross-slab, Golspie, Sutherland. RCAHMS.

14 Pictish cross-slab, Raasay House, Raasay. RCAHMS.

15 Tailpiece illustration for Mark's gospel, from St Augustine's Gospels. The Masters and Fellows of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (MS 286 f. 125r).

16 Finglesham man. Institute of Archaeology, University of Oxford.

17 Sutton Hoo helmet. The Trustees of the British Museum.

18 Reverse of cross-slab, Aberlemno, Angus. RCAHMS.

19 Front of cross-slab, Nigg, Ross & Cromarty. RCAHMS.

20 and 21 St Andrews Sarcophagus. Crown Copyright: RCAHMS.

22 Shrine of St Lachtin's Arm. National Museum of Ireland.

23 Symbol of St Matthew the Evangelist, introductory page to the Gospel of St Matthew in the Book of Durrow. The Board of Trinity College Dublin (MS 57 f. 21v).

24 Lindisfarne Gospels, the Evangelist Matthew. The British Library Board (MS Nero D.IV, f.25b).

25 Cross carpet page, Gospels of Chad, p.220. Used by permission of the Chapter of Lichfield Cathedral.

26 and 27 Franks Casket. The Trustees of the British Museum.

28 Engraving of the Ruthwell Cross, by W. Penny after Henry Duncan, An account of the remarkable monument in the shape of a cross, Archaeologica Scotica IV part 2, 1833, pl. XIII.

29 and 30 Ruthwell Cross, photographs of details from north and west sides. Copyright Department of Archaeology, Durham University, photographer T. Middlemass.

I am indebted to a number of scholars, to Dr C.E. Stancliffe for a survey of problems and the gift of her book on St Martin, Dr J.T. Koch for answering queries on Celtic Britain, Dr D. Petts for advice on fonts and votives in Roman Britain, Professor and Mrs Henderson for bibliography on hanging bowls, Dr J. Blair for information on Prittlewell, Dr M.C. Thomas re. Y chromosomes and ethnic survival, both Professor B. Yorke and Dr N.J. Higham for photocopies, Professor M.O.H. Carver for advice on Portmahomack, and Dr C. Lohmer for bibliographical help. I should also like to thank Mr Paul Webb for his invaluable technological help.

Many days were spent in the Reading Room of the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, unique among great libraries in its setting above the town, a view of Cardigan Bay below and a restaurant of quality in its basement. I am grateful to the library staff for their unfailing kindness. It has a copy of Hugh Williams's work on Christianity in early Britain dedicated to the Library by his widow, and to his memory I dedicate this book.

My greatest thanks are due to my wife. Together we have served more than the scriptural seven years on this book and it would never have been completed without her.