The Celtic Christian Church is the original Church of the British Isles and one of the Ancient Christian Churches.
Celtic Christianity, founded at Glastonbury in AD 37, by St-Joseph of Arimathea, having been sent with twelve disciples by St-Philip to establish Christianity on the British Isles. It’s interesting to note that the age of the Celtic Church was confirmed by five Pontifical Councils:
At the Council of Pisa in AD 1409 it was agreed that the Celtic Christian Church took precedence over all others because its foundation from Jerusalem was shortly after the crucifixion of Christ. The Council of Constance in AD 1419, and the Council of Siena in AD 1423 made similar proclamations. At the Council of Basel in AD 1432 it was confirmed that the Celtic Christian Church was founded by Joseph of Arimathea immediately after Christ’s crucifixion and therefore deserves its primacy.
In AD 63 St-Aristobulos, the Apostle of Britain, arrived and was consecrated as the first bishop of Britain. Elements of Celtic religious practices began to fuse with those of Christianity. The Celts, descended from the Galatians, had arrived in the British Isles around 50BC and became renowned for their monasticism and rigorous asceticism. However, monasticism wasn’t a joyless life separate from creation; in fact, its monks enjoyed both the created world and their scholarly tasks. Within six centuries all the British Isles were Christianised.
We shall begin to explore the history and modern times in our “About Us” page.
The Shepherds of the British Isles
Joseph of Arimathea was ordained to go and preach the Gospel in England; and three years after the death of our blessed Jesus Christ he travelled to Glastonbury where, fixing his pilgrim’s staff in the ground, it turned into a blossoming thorn. Through his prayers and preaching he converted many to become followers of Christ. He is said to have baptised, at the city of Wells, some eighteen thousand people in a day.
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The Celtic Christian Saints have left us a rich heritage of deeply spiritual prayer, and a visionary way of finding God in the beauty of His creation. Celtic spirituality is full of symbolism, some of which was borrowed from their Druid forefathers, but given a deeper Christian significance. They were known as “Peregrinari Pro Christ” – Pilgrims of Christ.
Such great names as Patrick, Brigit, Columba, Brendan, Samson, Amand, Burgundofara, Columban and many others stand out in the history of our Celtic Church.
