religio legitima

      It was before the withdrawal of the Roman Legions and their administration that Christianity found its way onto the Island. Some believe it was advanced by persecution under Decius (249A.D.-251 A.D.) and later by Diocletian (248 A.D.-305 A.D.). By 314 A.D. three church leaders are recorded among those who participate in the Council of Arles [text by Peter Blair, p.146]. From this unpleasant beginning, Christianity founded a number of communities leading to its gradual growth. How and when this development took place is uncertain, but one aspect was the monks of various rules of order. This discovery was a significant part of understanding the survival of my Celtic ancestors and played a significant role in finding my own Jones surname family.  A series of texts can be found where this monostatic system is discussed.  However, the following texts discuss broadly the onset as the Romans finally called religio legitima. 

      Salway, P., The Oxford Illustrated History Of Roman Britain , pp. 235-242. [see post of May 7]

      Blair, P.H., Roman Britian and Early England, pp.145-148. [see post of May 28]

      Jones, B.,Mattingly, An Atlas Of Roman Britain, pp.294-305. [see post June 3]

      The following shows the cover of Later Roman Britain, by Stephen Johnson. It has not been shown in previous posts (published by Paladin Grafton Books, London, 1982:

            The discussion can be found pp. 45-47, pp. 211-219. The plan of the church and cemetery at Icklingham, Suffolk is found on p. 167.