The True History of Christianity in Ireland
The simple but exciting truth is that Christ's apostles brought Christianity to Ireland, long before Saint Patrick.
Patrick himself said Christianity already existed when he arrived. In a letter called by scholars "genuine," he wrote, “In the days of old, the law of God was well planted and propagated in Ireland; I do not wish to take credit for the work of my predecessors; I share the task with all those whom God has called and foreordained to preach the Gospel.”(1)
In fact, Patrick found Christian churches already there.
How do we know it was the apostles who brought the gospel first? There are many proofs of this truth. Evidences that the apostles themselves brought Christianity to the British Isles as a whole are found in an accompanying article, The Exciting History of British Christianity. But there are specific references in historical records to Ireland. Here again are the highlights of some of these evidences.
* Jesus commanded His apostles to take His Gospel to every nation.
* The apostles did not consider Ireland "the least" in fulfilling this commandment of the Lord. Evidences are that Ireland, like Britain, was among the first nations the apostles sought out!
* Eusebius, a noted and ancient historian of Early Christianity, verified that the apostles took the gospel to all the British Isles.”
* Virgil, a Latin historian agreed, writing that the apostles visited Britain and citing oral histories that the apostles visited all the British Isles."
* Gildas, a British Historian, makes specific reference to Ireland, noting Christianity existed there before the defeat of Boudicca, A.D. 61.
But there are other evidences showing the origins started earlier.
Why is this information not generally known? There are two basic reasons.
First: Most ancient records of the first 500 years A.D. were destroyed. "The beginning of Christianity is one of the major problems of Irish history, as original documents of the early Christian period no longer exist." (Jakob Streit, Sun and Cross, 67).
Details of the many groups which destroyed records during this time period are given in the accompanying "Exciting History of British Christianity." There it is shown that records were destroyed by the Romans first; later by barbarian groups on the continent; and even later by Norwegian and Danish maurauders from the sea.
It is important to remember The Dark Ages got their name because of the scarcity of written records of the first 500 years A.D.
However, records were initially written. They were just destroyed.
Second: There was a rewriting of the history. Again more details are given in The Exciting History of English Christianity.
In regards to Ireland, it became an active design of the Roman Church to claim the Gospel was brought to Ireland by Saint Patrick, as the servant of Rome. There is an admission of this kind of rewriting of history. "To manipulate ancient writings, to edit history in one's own favour, did not appear criminal --- in the ages of faith--- if the end in view were otherwise [considered] just and good." (Dr. Barry, an historian of the Latin Church). Others make similar statements.
However, more and more evidences have gradually come to light, many of them correct histories written by more honest Roman historians, showing that the apostles themselves were Ireland's true source for the Gospel.
When we know the apostles were the original source, there are some interesting perspectives about that event. For it came remarkably easily, was accepted very quickly, and contained beautiful simplicity.
* "Francoise Henry says, "In Ireland where Christianity entered without conflict, the conversion was carried out very gently... "
He further comments on how quickly their art and their spirituality merged into Christian art and spirituality. (See Streit p. 68)
* [Ireland] was to experience in a surprisingly short time the penetration of Christianity." (Streit p. 64). (emphasis added).
* "In both creed and ritual this old Irish Christianity came into existence completely independent of Rome.... It entered into the life of the people of Ireland without fixed dogmas or any striving for ecclesiastical power." (Streit, p. 72).
While visiting one of the Middle Age monasteries still standing in Ireland, this writer learned that these Irish monasteries had little similarity to those of the Roman Church. They were centers where priests were married and lived with their families. They were primarily centers of refuge for these and other families from marauders from the sea. Here were places with towers built with high openings to escape and to try to preserve records, since so many in the past had been destroyed.
It is very important to emphasize there was complete harmony between Ireland and the other British Isles in regard to Christian beliefs and practices. The terms for this early Christianity (and general histories about) British, Scottish, and Irish Christianity are mostly interchangeable.
At first, British Isle and Roman Christianity also co-existed peaceably --- one north, one south, for centuries. Later, when great synods were held, the British Isle Christians were given preferential treatment, recognized as the first to accept Christianity. While there were some differences noted, the Romans cared little whether Christians living in distant nations worshipped differently and as taught from their own sources in the beginning.
But about 596 A.D. conflict between Roman Christianity and British Isle Christianity began, as missionaries from both found themselves seeking converts in the same areas on the Continent. Under Pope Gregory I, the decision was made to bring British Isle Christianity under their control. And recent changes in the Isles made them more ripe for such control.
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*Due to a previous invasion by the Saxons, (between 446 and 501 A.D.), original British Isle Christians and leaders had fled to the north and to the west.
* When forty Roman monks sent by Gregory I arrived in Britain, they were welcomed in the Southeast by a Saxon King, Ethelbert. They were allowed to set up a center for Roman Christianity at Canterbury.
*Through King Ethelbert the Roman monks gained influence in southern England and began to baptize the Saxons living there.
* Both British Isle Christianity and Roman Christianity continued to function in England for a long time, each in their own geographical realms of influence.
* Roman monks held meetings with all British Isle Christians leaders, requesting they accept Roman teachings, rituals and customs.
* The British Isle priests repeatedly refused. They felt the Roman Church had changed many things while they were preserving the purer form of Christianity.
*Eventually, one issue, the date of Easter, was brought as a matter of dispute between these two groups and put before the King of Northumbria to decide. Not greatly learned, he was persuaded by a Roman priest that Peter himself had given them the date for Easter, and he declared that Roman Christianity should have precedence thereafter.
*By edict of a King, British Isle Christianity therefor fell under the dominance of Rome. But the British Isle priests continued to resist this takeover for centuries.
* The resistance against Romanization continued longest in Ireland, indeed until the eleventh century A.D.
But none of this true history is told. Two hundred years after Patrick was deceased, the Roman Church rewrote the history, and the story put forth was that Saint Patrick had brought Christianity to Ireland as a servant of Rome. This story has seeped so deeply into the minds of the Irish and the world that it remains, in spite of all the facts.
Jacok Streit, born and raised in Switzerland, expresses deep gratitude for the Irish missionaries who brought Christianity to his ancestors in Switzerland thousands of years earlier. His is one of the major records of this struggle between Irish Christianity and Roman, which is also told in other histories. Isabel Hill Elder in Celt, Druid and Culdee also tells of how it took until the eleventh century A.D. before the Irish Churches had come totally under Roman dominance (p. 129).
Why Ireland was so receptive to Christianity
Christianity seems to have spread quickly throughout Ireland for several reasons.
A. Earlier Prophets likely visited Ireland
While the Biblical record of Jeremiah ends with him in Egypt, there are many claims that he later went to Ireland. There, according to many in Ireland, he taught the people the true Law of the Lord. While this seems surprising, this story is deeply ingrained in traditions there, and there is even a site where Jeremiah is said to be buried.
Furthermore, studies of the ancient Druids do show a surprising correlation between their laws and those of Moses, including the offering of the first of the flocks as sacrifice to the Lord.
Jeremiah 3:12 makes clear that Jeremiah had some responsibility to take the gospel to Northern Israel. "Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord." Northern Israel was at that time in captivity in Assyria.
As Latter-saints, we know that there were at times people led away by the Lord to other lands, and whose leavings were not recorded in the Bible. Some known by the Latter-day Saints are the Jaredites, the Mulekites, and the Lehites. But other groups could also have been led away, of which we do not have records. Because so many in the British Isles have been converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and their lineage identified as Israelite, we know some from the lost tribes did migrate to the British Isles at some time.
So Jeremiah could have been visiting Israelites already led there at some time, but he also would have been laying the foundation for the time when many Israelites freed from Assyrian bondagae would migrate to those Isles, and preparing their descendants for the Meridian of Time when Israelites in the British Isles would hear the words of Christ from His apostles.
B. There is much evidence that the Druids in the British Isles were indeed of the House of Israel
Christianity was accepted quickly in Ireland and in Britian. For both were led by the Druids. In spite of representations that they were pagans and human sacrificers, the real evidence shows they were likely Israelites, and ready recipients for Christianity. (2) There are many evidences, such as that they had cities of refuge; that they had similar harvest festivals. They believed in the immortality of the soul and were payers of tithing. See other evidences in "The Exciting History of Christianity" and in the works cited below.
1. Archaeological evidence. Archaeologists who have studied both the Druid and Semitic religious worship sites find powerful similarities. Here are just some of those who find such similarities.
*Sir Norman Lockyer. "I confess I am amazed at the similarities we have come across [between Druid and Semitic worship sites]."
*Edward Davies. "...I have not been the first in representing the Druidical as having had some connection with the patriarchal religion."
*William Stukely. 'I plainly discerned the religion professed by the ancient Britons was the simple patriarchal religion." (emphasis added).
And this is particularly true of Ireland. For there is much evidence that many of the Irish were descendants of Judah. Although with the later coming of the Vikings in the middle ages, (known through patriarchal blessisngs to be descendants of Dan), there has been at least one other influence on the culture.
Here are some of the evidences of early Jewish connections:
Anciently, they were recognized as of Jewish descent by others in the British Isles:
The Welsh traditionally called the Irish "Iddew" and the country itself "Iddewan" or Jewsland.
Ever present symbols of Judah exist throughout Ireland
When serving as a missionary in Ireland, I was made very aware of the ever present symbols of Judah everywhere, displayed prominently in the houses of government and found throughout the cities on public service equipment. The national symbol is David's harp, though most Irish have lost an understanding of why this and other Israelite symbols are so prevalent.
Other significant symbols, seen everywhere are three red lions; a rampant, red lion; and a red hand with a cord connected with it. These are not only symbols of Judah, but are specifically symbols of Zarah, one of the twin sons of Judah, who tried to be first born, had a red cord tied around his hand, then withdrew it to be born second (See Genesis 38:27-30). (3) The ancient Irish clearly believed they were descendants of Judah through the lineage of Zarah.
Since the Lord had stated His mission was to take His gospel first to "the lost sheep of Israel," it would be very consistent to send His apostles to those lands where a large body of Judah lived. For if no one else knew their whereabouts, He did.
Jewish Names among the Irish
After I returned from Ireland and was visiting the Harold B. Lee Family History Library, I saw a book entitled,
Irish Families: Their Names, Arms and Origins, by Edward MacLysaght. Inside were lists of names that appeared Jewish such as Coen, and variations Coyne, Kyne, Kilcoyne. The book said, "Coen (and especially the form Cohen) appears Jewish, but when met in Ireland it is almost always a true Irish name." p. 98. But the truth seems to be: it was first of Judah, then Irish.
And this is of particular interest because the name Cohen always signified one who was a priest or Levite. And there is much evidence that a major group of the Druids were a priestly class.
During the time I was there, our Irish stake was led by Irish born President Fagan.
Ireland was prepared before Christ for His coming.
Ancient people in Ireland knew about Christ's coming even before He came. If it seems strange that people knew of Christ before He came, remember Isaiah and other Biblical prophets knew. "For unto us a child is born, ...and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6).
One great evidence ancient Irish knew are the many amazing mounds in Ireland, built before Christ, many of which were built around a central passageway shaped like a cross. At one, called Knowth, not only the central mound, but nearly twenty surrounding mounds are almost all built around this same cross-shaped structure. In fact, soon after Christ came, this area became a central site for Early Irish Christianity.
But this mound was only one of 1200 megalithic sites in Ireland (worship centers or "temples" usually built from large stones). The origins of such structures have been traced to Mesopotamia. And the route from there to Northern Europe is explained as either by land or by sea, across the Mediteranean to Spain and then northward. (4)
The Irish saw signs of Christ's crucifixion
Irish historians have repeatedly relayed a story about King Conor Macnessa of Ulster (died A.D. 48) who asked why there was darkness over all the earth at a certain time, and was told by his Chief Druid, Bacrach, it was due to Christ's current crucifixion in Palestine. (5) But certainly the King and the Chief Druid were not the only ones who noted this sign.
Did Christ visit people in North Europe, such as the Irish?
There are some evidences Christ did visit peoples in Northern Europe, as He did in the Americas, as recorded in The Book of Mormon. At this time, however, the evidence is sketchy. Since the Book of Mormon said He would visit His "lost sheep" in other areas, to discover such evidence would not be surprising. In addition to all the above, here are some additional things to consider:
There was a lengthy period of peace in Ireland beginning at the time of Christ
It has been noted that a great time of peace came to Ireland at the same time as Christ's life, "a peace that lasted for centuries..." (Streit, p. 64).
A similar time of peace came to the Americas, due to the visit of Christ among them and the acceptance of His Gospel (4 Nephi 1:2-3, 15-24).
Archaeologists have verified such a period of peace in the Northeastern part of the United States, which occurred around the time of the early Christian era. Archaeologists point out they have found no deaths caused by weapons of war in the burial sites of that time, as opposed to other times of burials. (6)
The Book of Mormon records that people in the Americas knew beforehand about Christ, saw signs of His crucifixion, were visited by Him after His resurrection, and experienced a lengthy period of peace thereafer. There appear to be parallels with all of this in Ireland.
When we understand the truth of the origins of the people in Ireland, and of their heritage, it is easier to understand why the apostles may have selected them to be one of the first of all nations to hear the gospel.
Particularly, since most of those in Judah living in Judea had rejected Him, it must have been of great comfort to the Lord to have preserved another branch of Judah, of the House of Zarah, to be receptive to His word.
1. See Jakob Streit, Sun and Cross, (Great Britain: The Bath Press, 1977), p. 175
2. See Isabel Hill Elder, Celt Druid and Culdee (Durham, England: Covenant Publishing Company1973).
3. For more on the connection to Judah and these symbols see Vaughn E. Hansen, Whence Came They, (Springville, UT; Cedar Fort, 1993), pp. 55-70, and his source, W. H. Bennett, Symbols of our Celto-Saxon Heritage (Windsor, Ontario, Canada: Herald Press Limited, 1985.)
4. Peter Harbison, Pre-Christian Ireland (London: Thames and Hudson Ltd., 1988) pp. 42, 27.
5. See Elder, p. 71
6. George R. Milnar, The Moundbuilders: Ancient Peoples of Eastern North America (London: Thames & Hudson Ltd., 2004), p. 85.