Tertullian, bishop of Carthage in the second century, states: "The regions of Britain which have never been penetrated by the Romans [southwest England, Wales and Scotland] have received the religion of Christ" (Def. Fidei, p. 179). Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea in the early 300s, records that "the apostles passed beyond the ocean to the Isles called the British Isles" (Demonstratio Evangelica, Bk. 3, chap. 5). Eusebius had access to a substantial library at Caesarea, which contained sources that have since been lost. Theodoret, bishop of Cyprus in Syria (circa 430ad) states that "Paul, liberated from his first captivity at Rome, preached the Gospel to the Britons and others in the West… and the Cymry [the Welsh]" (D. Civ. Gracae Off., Bk. 9). Gildas also refers to the Britons as God's "latter-day Israel" (ibid., p. 28). Isidore, the Archbishop of Seville (600-636) wrote that Philip came to Gaul around Marseilles with Peter and preached the Gospel. Cardinal Baronius and Bede also placed Philip in Gaul. St. Epiphanius (315-407) bishop of Salamius says Philip came to Gaul with Joseph of Arimathea. He says Philip also preached in Dalmatia, Gaul, Italy and then into Macedonia, but that he spent most of his time in Gaul. Cardinal Caesere Baronius records this story based on documents in the Vatican library: (Side note: Cardinal Baronius was the curator of the Library at the Vatican in the 16th Century and twice was almost elected pope. His works, Annales Ecclesiastici, on the history of the church was greatly lauded when published as the most important historical expose’ on the church after Eusebius’ works). After Pentecost, Joseph gave up this work. He joined a team of missionaries led by the apostle Philip. They came to western Europe. Having reached Marseilles in Gaul (now France) in 35 AD and they split into two groups. One group stayed in the vicinity of Marseilles. The other, which included Joseph, traveled north. Because of his familiarity with Briton, Joseph was chosen by Philip to cross the channel and bring the gospel to these shores. With 11 or 12 associates he sailed along the north shore of Cornwall and Devon and landed on the Somerset coast. At Glastonbury Joseph established the first missionary base in the British Isles. In 179 AD King Lucius built a church and dedicated it to St. Peter in commemoration of his evangelizing labors in Briton. it is still known as St. Peter’s of Cornhill. The finest evidence that Peter was in Briton may be found at Whithorn. A stone 4 feet high, 15 inches wide with the Latin inscription “Locvs Sancti Petri Apvstoli” (The place of Peter the Apostle) has been excavated there. Dorotheus, the bishop of Tyre around 300 AD writes that Simon came to Briton after Joseph of Arimathea. He says simon was martyred in Briton. Nicephorus, Patriarch of Constantinople in 758 AD confirms his martyrdom there. The Greek Orthodox Church agrees and recognizes his saint day as May 10th, the date of his martyrdom. He made at least two trips to Briton, the first in 44 AD and the second in 60 AD according to Eusebius and Cardinal Baronius. On his last trip he went into the south of Briton, an area not protected by Roman troops and considered dangerous. He preached fiery sermons and was arrested by Catusdeciannus and put to death on May 10, 61. Cardinal Baronius in Annales Ecclesiastici confirms the date. Hippolytus, bishop of Rome, writes that Simon was the first bishop in Briton. Dorotheous, bishop of Tyre, stated (in about 300AD) that "Aristobulus, whom Paul saluted [Romans 16:10] was bishop of Britain" and that Simon Zelotes also came to Britain (Synopsis de Apostol., Synops. 9, 23). Gildas says that the coming of Christianity to Britain "happened first, as we know, in the last years of the emperor Tiberius [14-37ad]" (The Ruin of Britain, p. 18). This means that Christianity arrived in Britain no later than 37AD — within five years after Christ's crucifixion.
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