References are not given to the Authorities used, partly because the Work is chiefly intended for readers who have not the opportunity of comparing them, and partly because in many cases it would be difficult to say to which of several Authors the Compiler has been indebted. A list of the principal works which have been used, is here added.

Bede's Ecclesiastical History.

Burgess' (Bp.) Tracts.

Chronicles of the Ancient British Church.

Churton's Early English Churcb.

Collier's Ecclesiastical History.

Fuller's Church History of Britain.

Hales' Origin and Purity of the Primitive Church in Britain.

Henry's History of England.

Perranzabuloe, by C. T. Collins.

Short's (Bp.) History of Church of England.

Six Old English Chronicles, published by Bohn.

Soames' Anglo-Saxon Church.

Southey's Book of the Church.

Staveley's History of the Churches in England.

Stillingfleet's Origines Sacræ.

Usher's Discourse on the Religion of the Ancient Irish and British.

Usserii Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates.

Williams' Ecclesiastical Antiquities of the Cymry.

PREFACE.

THE following pages were originally prepared in order to give some information on the early History of the English Church, to the Members of a Society in the Compiler's own Parish. Friends who saw them suggested, that in a different form, the matter contained would be valuable, especially as a reading book in our Schools. There is of course nothing original; the design was to collect, and form into one Lecture the best information, especially such as would interest young persons. It may perhaps be thought that many things which are brought forward here, rest on very doubtful authority. To this it may be replied, they rest on at least as good authority as many of the events unhesitatingly advanced in secular history, and they are of greater interest, as well as greater importance.

It is remarkable that an event of such vast importance as the first introduction of the Gospel into Britain, has been so little noticed by several historical writers of eminence; Hume and Sir James Mackintosh pass it over almost in silence-information respecting it has been in general only obtained from our larger Ecclesiastical Histories. The consequence is, that many are altogether ignorant of the subject. This may be illustrated by a circumstance

noticed in the newspapers of the day, which state that the picture placed in the new House of Lords, immediately over her Majesty's Throne, is the Baptism of King Ethelbert; Augustine is represented as performing the ceremony. And this picture is declared to represent "the introduction of Christianity into Britain by Augustine."

The object of the Compiler has been to bring together into moderate compass, the records of a much earlier introduction of Christianity into this land, and to put the whole into such a form, as to be a suitable reading book in Schools, that the rising generation may be rightly informed on this important subject.

The work is offered to the public with the earnest desire to promote among the young a knowledge of the ancient and strong foundations on which our Church is built. If in any degree it tends to increase a spirit of filial affection towards it, the writer's labour will be abundantly rewarded.

JAMES FAWCETT.

St. Mark's Parsonage, Woodhouse, Leeds.

August, 1848.