South Eastern Britain

While the traditional areas of the British Isles from the South and West and North had all developed a strong culture of their own, the church received a new impetus in the south east due to the mission of St Augustine and his companions sent to England by Pope Gregory in 597. The story is too well-known to warrant repetition. St Augustine himself, strengthened by the constant concern of the Pope, was howehowever also wed to their ways and from the beginning the two groups, Roman and British, were set on courses which proved to be beyond resolve. There will always be a sadness in the story; and even today there is not an abundance of love to leap over this hurdle.