English Beliefs
A brief history of the religious worship and philosophies of England and Britain.
Pre-Christian Worship in Britain
Little is known about pre-Christian worship in England. Prior to the Roman conquest, the people of the British Isles, or Britons, practiced a mix of Celtic and indigenous cultures. This included Celtic religious influences, a large range of faiths known as Celtic polytheism. Better records of this polytheism have survived in Wales and Ireland. Fragments of their traditions were preserved through folklore, Roman historians, and the writings of later Christian monks. Like other Celtic faiths, the Britons appear to have conducted worship at sacred natural sites, supported a class of druid priests, and recognized a wide pantheon of deities.
Religion Under Roman Authority
When the Romans invaded Britain in the 1st century CE, they carried with them their own polytheistic faith. As part of their conquest, Roman authorities made a concerted effort to eliminate the druids and their influence in society. They encouraged the adoption of Roman gods, which had already fused with related Gallic faiths to form Gallo-Roman Polytheism. The relatively late date of their conquest meant that Christianity soon arrived on the island as well. Pelagius, a noted missionary and theologian, and Saint Patrick were both born on the British Isles.
Paganism and Conversion Among the Anglo-Saxons
Christianity gained an early foothold in England but lost ground again during the invasion of Germanic groups known as the Anglo-Saxons. Their faith recognized Germanic pagan deities like Tiw (Tyr), Woden (Odin), Thunor (Thor), and Frige (Frigg). These gods survive in English today through the names of weekdays. For several centuries, paganism eclipsed Christianity. By the 7th century, however, surrounding Christian lands began sending missionaries to England. These included missions from Scotland, Ireland, and Continental Europe. Their efforts proved successful; within about a century, England was again majority Christian.
Norman Catholicism
The Normans, like the Anglo-Saxons, were Catholics with Germanic pagan roots. They replaced most of the Anglo-Saxon churches and clergy with their own. For the rest of the Middle Ages, Catholicism dominated most aspects of life in England. Religious centers, including pilgrimage sites, attracted travelers, pilgrims, beggars, and students alike. The Catholic Church was not a monolithic entity. Holy orders like the Dominicans and Franciscans preached and worked among the poor. Most study and art of this time were also connected to the Church.
Henry VIII and the English Reformation
The Reformation reached England in the 16th century and would forever alter its course of history. King Henry VIII, trapped in a marriage that had failed to produce a male heir, split from the Roman Catholic Church in order to secure a divorce. Henry declared himself the Supreme Head of the Church of England in 1531. Under his supervision, the Catholic monasteries, churches, and other religious houses of England were dismantled and replaced with Anglican institutions.
Henry was excommunicated by the Pope in 1538 and died in 1547. Three of his children would inherit his crown. His first son, Edward, died at a young age. His oldest daughter, Mary I, reverted the kingdom to Catholicism through violent means. Her acts would earn her the nickname ‘Bloody Mary.’ This was again reversed by her half-sister, Queen Elizabeth I, a Protestant. From Elizabeth’s reign forward, despite rebellions and uprisings, Protestant Anglicanism remained the official religion of England. Anglicanism is frequently represented as a middle-ground between Catholicism and other branches of Protestantism, maintaining close ties to Catholic theology.
English Philosophy
England is home to two of the oldest and most respected universities in the world: Oxford and Cambridge. In addition to their contributions to math and the natural sciences, English scholars have also published some of the most influential works of Western philosophy. The tumultuous Reformation, English Civil War, Industrial Revolution, and World Wars all shaped the thoughts of their time. Among the most famous English philosophers are Thomas More, Francis Bacon, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, David Hume, Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill, and Bertrand Russell. While many dealt with questions of spirituality and morality, others were more concerned with organizing an efficient society and its economy.
Modern English Worship
Today, England is a majority Christian but religiously diverse member of the United Kingdom. As of 2011, about 59 percent of the population of England and Wales professed Christianity, followed by roughly 5 percent Muslims. The nation, particularly London, is also home to sizable Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jewish communities. Another 25 percent practiced no religion at this time, and religious participation continues to decline. A 2017 British Social Attitudes survey, for example, found that over half the population now claims no religion. This trend is especially pronounced among younger generations.
References
Dyer, Christopher. Everyday Life in Medieval England. Cambridge University Press. 2000.
Hibbert, Christopher. Life in Victorian England. New Word City. 2015.
Jenkins, Simon. A Short History of England. Profile Books. 2011.
Kumar, Krishan. The Idea of Englishness: English Culture, National Identity and Social Thought. Ashgate Publishing. 2015.
Olsen, Kirstin. Daily Life in 18th-Century England. 2nd Ed. ABC-CLIO. 2017.
“Religion in England and Wales 2011.” Office for National Statistics, Office for National Statistics, www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/articles/religioninenglandandwales2011/2012-12-11#religious-affiliation-across-the-english-regions-and-wales.
Sherwood, Harriet. “More than Half UK Population Has No Religion, Finds Survey.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 4 Sept. 2017, www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/04/half-uk-population-has-no-religion-british-social-attitudes-survey.
“The World Factbook: United Kingdom.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 12 July 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uk.html.
White, R.J. A Short History of England. Cambridge University Press. 1967.
About TOTA
TOTA.world provides cultural information and sharing across the world to help you explore your Family’s Cultural History and create deep connections with the lives and cultures of your ancestors.
