What is Celtic Christianity? Scholars cannot agree on a hard definition or its time period, however, most would describe it as the Christianity found in the British Isles– Scotland, Wales, Ireland — and parts of northwestern England. Many date its period between 410, when the Romans left these areas, and 1066 when the conquering Normans arrived. Others restrict its age to the time between the 4th and 5th centuries. Whatever dates are established, Celtic Christianity is an ongoing tradition with proponents through the 21st century. The Romans (like St. Patrick) brought Christianity to these areas with definite Roman features, notably, monastic life, but so far removed and outside of the Roman empire, Christian communities assumed the local cultures that were markedly different from central Europe. In Ireland, Christianity replaced the Druid’s way of life but not without assuming some of its features, like seeing the divine in all things, especially nature.
Brigid of Kildare (451-523) is a key figure of Celtic Christianity. She formed the bridge from the Druid to the Christian way of life. The story of her life is shrouded in myth and legend. She led a Druid community, and then transformed it to a Christian monastery. She became “Mother of the Gaels’ and even ‘Mother of Christ’ to the Irish. She gave birth to the Christian faith in Ireland.
This is the first of a continuing series devoted to our namesake Brigid, other key figures of early Celtic Christianity, and more recent models of its tradition.