Christianity first arrived in Britain with the Romans around the 2nd century CE. Some local people adopted the new faith, but after the Romans left in 410 CE, much of their influence faded.
A more organized effort to spread Christianity began in 597 CE, when Augustine of Canterbury arrived with the support of Pope Gregory. The strategy focused on converting local rulers, with the hope that their people would follow.
Pope Gregory advised Augustine to adapt existing places of worship for Christian use, rather than destroy them. This approach helped ease the transition and allowed familiar sites to remain central to community life.
