The Irish church

The Book of KellsThe history of the early Irish Church is connected with the history of the Church in Britain. The British Church evangelized Ireland, for instance with the arrival of the Briton Patrick. (5th century)

After some years it was the turn of the Irish to bring the Gospel back again to Britain, of which Colum Cille is a good example. (563)

Then it was the turn for Rome to launch a mission into Britain with Augustine (596). At the synod of Whitby (664) the Celtic Church in Britain was defeated by this new order.

In 1166 King Henry II – with the blessing of Pope Adrian IV and on request of Dermoth Mac Murrogh King of Leinster - invaded Ireland and after 6 years the new decrees were passed at the synod of Cashel (1172), finishing the independence of the Irish and the Irish Church.

In the sixteenth century the reformation changed the scene in Britain, but in Ireland the reformation was imposed with act of Parliament rather than with the Book of God. When after 80 years a more sincere effort was made, the people had decided against it. The Reformation had come in English cloths - Ireland did not want it in this form!