The Anglo-Saxons were pagans but were converted to Catholicism by San't agostino in the

6th century

The Anglo-Saxon ReligionIntroduction

The Moon (Màni) is the Goddess of hunting. She wears a white robe and carries a bow and arrow.

Tiw is the God of war. He dresses like an Anglo-Saxon warrior and carries a battle-axe.

Woden is the chief God. He dresses like a king and carries a spear to show his authority.

Thunor is the God of thunder. He dresses like a warrior and carries a bolt of lightening.

Freya is the Goddess of love and the wife of Woden. She carries no symbols because she is so beautiful.

Saturn is the God of fun and feasting. He is fat and jolly.

The Sun is the God of life. He is often shown as a youth with a sun halo.

Gods

Monday

Mōnandæg

Moon’s day

Màni

Tuesday

Tiwesdæg

Tiw’s day

Tiw

Wednesday

Wōdnesdæg

Woden's day

WODEN

Thursday

Þūnresdæg

Thunor’s day

Thunor

Friday

Frigedæg

Freya's day"

Freya

Saturday

Sæturnesdæg

Saturn's day

Saturn

Sunday

Sunnandæg

Sun's day",

Sun

Various recurring symbols appear on certain pagan Anglo-Saxon artefacts, in particular on grave goods. Most notable amongst these was the swastika, which was widely inscribed on crematory urns and also on various brooches and other forms of (often female) jeweller as well as on certain pieces of ceremonial weapons. It seems very likely that it was the symbol of the thunder god Thunor, and when found on weapons or military gear its purpose would be to provide protection and success in battle.

Another symbol that has appeared on several pagan artefacts from this period was the rune which represented the letter T and is associated with the god Tiw.

Sacred Symbols

The pagan Anglo-Saxons worshipped at a variety of different sites across their landscape, some of which were apparently specially built temples and others that were natural geographical features such as sacred trees , hilltops or wells Each of these hearg may have been devoted to a specific deity, for instance, in several cases, a grove of trees was devoted to just one god, as can be seen from the town of Thundersley (from Thunor's Grove), which was devoted to the god Thunor, Popular historian Thor Ewing suggested that some of these sites were not dedicated to a well known deity, but simply to a local animistic one, who was believed to inhabit that very spot. The pagan Anglo-Saxons built temples to worship their gods, which were "wooden-framed" and contained "an altar and a likeness of one or more gods". Some have suggested that sometimes these temples were built alongside pre-existing sacred sites in the landscape, and indeed, "ancient remains in the landscape held a significant place in the Anglo-Saxon mind as part of a wider, numinous, spiritual and resonant landscape".

Places Of Worship

Augustine of Canterbury (first third of the 6th century – probably 26 May 604) was a Benedictine monk who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 597. He is considered the "Apostle to the English" and a founder of the English Church. Augustine was the prior of a monastery in Rome when Pope Gregory the Great chose him in 595 to lead a mission, usually known as the Gregorian mission, to Britain to Christianize King Ethelberht and his Kingdom of Kent from their native Anglo-Saxon paganism. Kent was probably chosen because Æthelberht had married a Christian princess, Bertha, daughter of Charibert I the King of Paris, who was expected to exert some influence over her husband. Before reaching Kent the missionaries had considered turning back but Gregory urged them on and, in 597, Augustine landed on the Isle of Thanet and proceeded to Æthelberht's main town of Canterbury. King Ethelberht converted to Christianity and allowed the missionaries to preach freely, giving them land to found a monastery outside the city walls. Augustine was consecrated as a bishop and converted many of the king's subjects, including thousands during a mass baptism on Christmas Day in 597. Pope Gregory sent more missionaries in 601, along with encouraging letters and gifts for the churches, although attempts to persuade the native Celtic bishops to submit to Augustine's authority failed. Roman bishops were established at London and Rochester in 604, and a school was founded to train Anglo-Saxon,priests and missionaries. Augustine also arranged the consecration of his successor, Laurence of Canterbury. The archbishop probably died in 604 and was soon revered as a saint.

SAN AUGUSTINE