Buffy's Salon

History of Christianity in England: Roman Britain

 

Lullingstone Chi Rhos

Imagine Britain before the Romans arrived and before artisans, traders and missionaries brought Christianity to her shores.  Since 500 BC various Celtic tribes had lived and fought during the era we call the Iron Age.  When they weren't at war with each other, the people were farmers.  Traditions were oral, people lived in mud huts in hamlets and children were farmed out to be raised by other families.  The power in the land was held by the Druids.  The Celts were a tough and barbaric bunch who horrified the Romans (and with what the Romans got up to that took some doing).  They loved fighting (and that includes the women), sacrificed humans and liked to cut off the heads of people they had killed in battle and keep them because they thought the power of that person would then pass to them.

Once the Romans arrived at this, their furthest frontier, everything changed.  After several attempts, they succeeded in conquering the Celts between about AD43 and AD63.  The technological, social, administrative and military changes that the Romans brought revolutionised life in England, or Britannia as they called it.  And of course the people of Briton, both the natives and the ones sent by the Romans to settle there, became exposed to the Roman's brand of pagan beliefs. 

Roman Army of Julius Caesar Landing in Britain, c.55 A.D

We don't know exactly when the first Christian missionary arrived in England (unless the stories about Joseph of Arimathea are true), but at the same time as the Roman occupation revolutionised Britain there was another quieter and more subtle influence in the form of the Christian message which slowly gained a foothold in these isles. 

The Romans aggressively stamped out Druidism, but Christianity still had to compete with the Roman pagan religion and for a long time it looked like it would remain a minority cult (which is certainly how the Romans viewed it to start with).

During the greater part of the Roman occupation, Christians were persecuted by the Romans.  Why were the Romans intolerant of Christianity?  Christians refused to accept that Roman gods or the Roman Emperor could take precedence over Christ and his teachings.  Consequently Christians had to meet and worship in secret.  Ironically it was the spread of the pagan Roman Empire throughout so many countries that enabled one religion, Christianity, born in the Mediterranean, to become a universal religion.  The Roman infrastructure made it so much easier for the message to spread around the known world.

By the third century a sizable number of people across the whole strata of British society had converted to Christianity.  Many were drawn by the idea of a close relationship with a single God rather than the impersonal and uncaring Roman gods. Christian leaders were called Bishops.  At first they were chosen by the community, then by the clergy; in other words a hierarchy of sorts was being built up outside of the Roman government.  This naturally infuriated the Romans who stepped up the persecution. 

The first British Christian martyr was St Alban who converted to Christianity and was subsequently executed in the third century.  A third century manuscript explains:

"Alban received a fugitive cleric and put on his garment and his cloak that he was wearing and delivered himself up to be killed instead of the priest.... and was delivered immediately to the evil Caesar Severus."

When told he would be executed for the deception unless he would sacrifice to the pagan gods, Alban declared:

"I worship and adore the true and living God who created all things."  

In AD313 Christianity had grown too big for anyone to think it could be squashed any more and the Roman Emperor granted official tolerance for its followers. In AD314 bishops were sent from London, York and Colchester to a Council of the Church in France, suggesting that Christianity now had a substantial following in Britain.

The picture at the top of the post shows the decorated pavement from a villa in Lullingstone from the early fourth century.  The mosaic depicts a rather Roman looking Christ , with the two Greek letters behind his head the key to his identity as Chir Rho.  This villa has earlier depictions of pagan gods and a later church was added, illustrating the movement of this family over the generations from worshiping the Roman pagan gods to Christianity.

In AD407 the Romans left; the crumbling empire no longer able to sustain a presence here.  England entered the Dark Ages. 

A Beautiful Guest Room

Tuscan Bedroom

You will probably have stayed overnight at different hotels, guest houses and the homes of friends and family many times and will know that the experience will vary from being a real treat to a time of awkward discomfort.  When someone is staying, whether a friend, relative or even someone you barely know to whom you are offering generous hospitality, the ball is in your court to make their stay so enjoyable that they feel as relaxed as they would do at home, but also a little bit pampered like a special guest.

Make sure you are ready before your guest arrives.  It's not very pleasant for them watching you rush around making their bed and looking panicked.  You want them to walk into a peaceful and welcoming atmosphere.

Their haven will be the guest room you provide, whether it's set aside for the purpose of guests or whether a member of your family is giving up their bedroom for the duration of the stay.  Here are some tips to make that haven as delightful a retreat as possible:

• if you are fortunate enough to have a guest room set apart, think carefully about how you want to decorate it so that it will be soothing and welcoming - even the smallest space can be a thing of beauty and grace (Country Living provides some inspiration.)
• make sure you have slept there yourself at least once to ensure the bed is big enough, comfortable, the temperature acceptable, there are no strange noises or smells etc
• don't fill your guest room with clutter that you can't find room for elsewhere
• it should go without saying that the bedclothes must be freshly laundered and ironed for each new visitor!
• when ironing the bed sheets use lavender water, or else spray them when they're on the bed
• if it's winter provide a hot water bottle or an electric blanket (don't switch the blanket on without asking; some people hate them)
• provide plenty of pillows and throws or blankets - it's impossible to sit up and read a book in bed with just one flat pillow
• make sure they have both spare hangers for their clothes and at least one empty drawer space
• provide a clean bath robe; hardly anyone packs them because they take up so much room
• leave some chunky socks out for walking around in
• make sure there is a bedside lamp that can be turned off without getting out of bed
• leave a bottle of water (it doesn't have to be bottled water, but this way it stays fresher)
• Either leave some books or magazines in the room that you know will interest them, or show them where your collection is and tell them to borrow what they like.  If they wake up in the night, or have trouble getting to sleep, they will not want to risk waking you by padding around the house looking for some entertainment.
• put a bunch of seasonal flowers on the bedside table
• if possible provide an alarm clock/radio by the bed
• consider leaving a tin of biscuits or some chocolate in case they get peckish
• leave out a big fluffy towel for each person, and possibly a smaller hand towel as well
• light a scented candle before they arrive and leave it in the room for them to use (light floral scent for ladies and woody or spicy for gentlemen)
• show them your bath oils and bubble bath and invite them to use what they need
• keep spare soap, toothbrushes and disposable razors for guests who either forget these things or who are staying over unexpectedly
• lastly, make sure there is a little bin in either their bedroom or the bathroom

If you don't have a guest room and are putting someone up on your sofa overnight use a little table as their bedside cabinet and make sure they have at least a lamp on it as well as any of the above listed items you want to provide.  Make the "bed" up nicely by taking off the back cushions of the sofa and putting the sheet on the bottom cushions, then add pillows and a duvet or another sheet and blankets.

Most of these suggestions are from two of the most delightful books: House Rules by Clare Coulson and Domestic Bliss by Rita Konig.  Both address domestic issues combining practical advice with a little glamour and style.  Just reading them is a treat.

Damaged Childhood?

The Story Book

Whilst it would be naive to suggest that there was once a golden era for children, we need to be concerned that research is showing that our modern lifestyles are creating children who are more difficult, anxious and troubled than in the past.

A report commissioned by the Children's Society came to the conclusion that "excessive individualism" (aka selfish adults with the wrong priorities) is to blame for many of the ills of modern childhood, and that youngsters would be happier and more stable if they were taught a value system based on helping others rather than focused on seeking only one's own personal advantage.  (Now where have I read that before?)

We find ourselves these days in an "Emperor's New Clothes" situation where society encourages us to behave in certain ways which our own commonsense tells us will only cause damage in the long-term.  Yet everyone is afraid to speak out and say that the Emperor is naked for fear of ridicule from others.

The Good Childhood Inquiry, however, quite clearly tells us that:

• stressing children out with tests and league tables
• stopping children from playing outdoors, and 
• exposing children to advertising for unhealthy or unwholesome products

will eventually damage them.

The inquiry goes further into controversial territory.  Young children living with a single parent or step-parent (as opposed to married parents) are 50% more likely to fail at school, lack social skills, have behavioural difficulties and suffer from anxiety and depression.

"Child-rearing is one of the most challenging tasks in life and ideally it requires two people," they comment.  Sounds obvious when you put it like that!

The report even dared to suggest that the increase in working mothers may contribute to the damage being done.

"Most women now work and their new economic independence contributes to levels of family break-up which are higher in the UK than in any other Western European country."

Some women (or men) don't have any choice about being a single parent and some are both the only carer and the only breadwinner.  We can't judge everyone in this situation, but when are we going to realise that lifestyles aimed at what boils down to instant gratification and acquiring material wealth result in society paying a price which far outweighs any initial individual gain?

Buffy's Library

Reading By the Window  

Inspired by The Bookworm's library at Apple Cider Mill I'm going to keep up to date a list of fiction books that I have read whilst blogging with a short review, or a link to a longer review, for anyone who is interested.  I'll add updates as I read more books.  If you have read any of these books and want to add your comments, please feel free to do so.

The books covered in this post are:

At Home in Mitford
The Life Of Pi
The Secret History
My Family & Other Animals
Peony in Love
Dissolution
Small Island
The End of Mr Y
The Greengage Summer
Secret of the Sirens
The Declaration
How I Live Now
Many Waters

General Fiction

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At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

Father Tim is the rector for the sleepy town of Mitford.  Only it seems it's not as sleepy as he thought as he is adopted by a dog the size of a Buick, a hostile boy is left in his care, an attractive new neighbor moves in next door, he uncovers a surprising tale of unrequited love, and experiences a mysterious break-in and mysterious events at the church. 

After a slow start and about 30 characters to memorize I enjoyed this gentle and humorous story.  Although it has a strong Christian ethic it does not preach or judge, it rather highlights the humility and desire to serve that should be found in a man of God.  Although the books are set in modern times they have a pre-2WW feel to them.

Read thoughts on Jan Karon's Mitford series at A Booklover's Journal.

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Life of Pi by Jann Martel 

A young Indian boy called Pi (short for Piscine) finds himself shipwrecked for months in a small life boat which contains a Bengal tiger.

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The Secret History by Donna Tartt

A story about misfits and elites, innocence lost, the dangers of experimenting with classical paganism, how people can talk themselves into anything if they are pushed into a tight corner and, most of all, about how none of us are beyond morality or can outrun our own conscience.  Warning: some very dark themes covered.

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Humour

My Family & Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

The eccentric Durrell family decide they can no longer endure the damp, gray English climate so they relocate to Corfu. "My Family and Other Animals" is the true story of both a young boy's experiences with the natural history of the island and a hilarious account of his family's acquaintances, from the many bizarre hangers-on to the ceaseless procession of reptiles, birds and small mammals into their home.

This is the sort of book you dip into and out of as each chapter stands as its own story.  You don't have to be fascinated by animals to enjoy this book although in reading it you will realise how fascinating animals are!  It seems incredible in this modern age that any child can experience the freedom to roam around outdoors making friends of strangers and experiencing nature in all its glory (and sometimes danger).  It makes you nostalgic for the real childhoods that are being lost in front of the TV and computer screen these days. 

The BBC recently made a wonderful family film based on the book.

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Historical Fiction

Peony in Love by Lisa See

Peony is the only child of wealthy Chinese parents in the seventeenth century, shortly after the Manchus seized power from the Ming dynasty.  Aged 15 she is betrothed to a suitor she has never met and she has never been allowed to leave the beautiful family compound.  In the garden of the family Villa, amid the scent of ginger, green tea, and jasmine, a small theatrical troupe performs scenes from the classic Chinese opera "The Peony Pavilion".  As a special treat Peony and the other female guests are allowed to view the spectacle through a screen. After that, her life changes forever.

Reading this book is like being immersed in the culture with its traditions and rituals, its separate worlds for men and women, its religious and spiritual beliefs and, in particular, the down-to-earth expectation that ghosts and spirits continue as part of the family long after the people have died.  This story covers everything from a mother's love to anorexia, the terrors of war to the misunderstandings that poison family life.  I can't really think of a time or place when women's lives were as different from what they are now as those depicted in this book, and yet at heart the women are not very different to us

Read more at the author's own site.

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Dissolution by CJ Sansom - If you have not yet found the Matthew Shardlake series of books set during the English Reformation, but you like either a good mystery or are interested in the history of the Reformation, I would strongly recommend them.

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Small Island by Andrea Levy - The story is about four people, two English and two Jamaican, their lives before the Second World War, the men's very mixed experiences in serving in the armed forces and life during the bombing of London.  Then the young Jamaican's attempts to emigrate to England to make a life in a country that needs them but doesn't want them. 

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Fantasy & Science Fiction

The End of Mr Y - Scarlett Thomas

Ariel Manto is surprised to discover a copy of "The End of Mr Y"in an antiquarian bookshop  She's a fan of the author, the eccentric Victorian scientist Thomas Lumas, and this is his most infamous book of which only a handful of copies remain.  It is also believed to hold a curse. Anyone who's ever read it  has died or disappeared without trace. 

I found this a fascinating book that covers everything from philosophy to metaphysics, Victorian literature to the study of language, faith, physics and romance.  Despite some complicated and very imaginative concepts it was very readable.  Note: this should be read as a piece of fantasy, not as a serious work of science, philosophy or faith.  (Although the story is not without its religious imagery, hint the main male protagonist is called "Adam".)   Warning: Be prepared for bad language, sexual scenes and lax morals.

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Young Adults

The Greengage Summer by Rummer Godden

A fatherless English family travel to France on holiday and, when the mother is taken ill, the children are left to entertain themselves through a hot August.  Staying at the elegant but faded Les Oeillets they encounter a number of adults: mysterious, charming and sophisticated.  However, deceit is in the air, as slowly the children realise that not everything is as it seems, no one can be trusted and growing into adulthood unprotected can be full of pain.

This story about loss of innocence is beautifully written so that you see everything from the point of view of a 13 year old girl. As the story grows, she slowly fathoms the complex secrets of the adults around her.  Warning: Although ostensibly written for young adults I think this book requires an adult sensibility.

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Secret of the Sirens (Companions Quartet Book One) by Julia Golding

Connie has never been able to fit in with other children, because of her strange affinity with animals.  When she is sent to live with her eccentric aunt by the sea she finds, to her surprise, the town is the heart of the secret Society for the Protection of Mythical Creatures, a group of people sworn to ensure that mythical beasts, such as the mysterious sirens, are kept hidden and safe. All is not well, however, as dark forces are on the rise and Connie must join the fight to keep the world and all its inhabitants safe.

This is the first of a quartet, and seems a good addition to children's fantasy stories.  It has a classic light v dark theme.  The story is racy, the young heroine is brave and resourceful and it upholds the idea that it can be a privilege to be different to the rest of the world.

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The Declaration by Gemma Malley - Sometime in the future drugs have become available which ensure that any who take them never get sick and don't die of old age.  However, when death becomes a thing of the past and children continue to be born overpopulation looms, so a new law or "declaration" is passed which forbids anyone to have children unless they "opt out" of taking the drugs.

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How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff -  In the not-too distant future England (along with other countries around the world) is invaded by an unnamed enemy.

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Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle- Set in the days of Noah, when those who have ears to hear can still recognise the music of the stars. The wise and good hear and obey the voice of God, and the mighty Seraphim still do his bidding on earth in physical form. 

Quality Adaptations Part III: Four Victorian favourites

I have already covered the well-known adaptations of both Jane Austen and Mrs Gaskell so here are four favourites from very different novelists writing in the nineteenth century, each brought to the screen in an adaptation of exceptional standard.

I fell in love with The Barchester Chronicles as a teenager. Based on the novels The Warden, and Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope these stories of Victorian clergy and their family and friends have a suprisingly modern feel.  They are rich in detail, have wonderfully flawed characters (the hen-pecked bishop, the ambitious parson, the crippled beauty) and whilst containing many truths about life maintain a rich sense of humour.  You would not think that so much scheming and double-dealing would go on amongst the well-bred denizens of a cathedral town.  Happily the good are ultimately rewarded and we always have an excellent moral compass in The Rev Septimus Harding.  Watch the incoming bishop's party set the battle lines in this excerpt.

Wilkie Collins introduced mystery novels to Victorian Britain and with The Moonstone he gave us the classic ingredients: suspects gathered in an English country house who all have alibis, a cursed diamond that goes missing,a heroine who overnight starts acting strangely, some mysterious Indian jugglers, and a mystified police detective. Wilkie Collins was also a social critic and his disapproval of some aspects of the colonisation of India and the treatment of the servant classes are apparent. 

The Diary of a Nobody was published in the 1890s and is the hilarious story of a city clerk with aspirations called George Pooter.  Alas, life never goes according to plan thanks to his friends (Cummings and Gowings), his imprudent son, Lupin, the various snubs he receives from a variety of ignorant aquaintances and his own unfortunate gaffes.  It was filmed by the BBC as a one-man show with Hugh Bonneville.  In this excerpt Pooter both displays his good taste and gives an example of his humorous quips.

Bleak House is a superb adaptation of a classic Dickens novel.  This really is a saga, with so many plots and sub-plots, scores of characters, plenty of romance, tragedy and humour.  At the centre of the story is the court case to determine the beneficiaries of a will, which has been running for years and consumed thousands of pounds.  There have been several adaptations but the 2005 BBC version was polished, thoughtful and very well cast.  The complex story is told over eight hours and although her character is only on for a fraction of that time Gillian Anderson's portrayal of the haunted Lady Dedlock was unforgettable. See something of her performance in this clip.