The evangelization of Ireland and Britain for Christianity was accomplished during the fifth and sixth centuries. Patrick, in his youth a captive among the Irish, returned several years after his escape to extend Christianity there. Monasteries were planted in the country, and Ireland became the base for extensive missions to England and the Continent. In the sixth century Columba, a man of noble lineage among the Irish founded a monastery on the island of Iona that became the mission center for Britain during the next two hundred years. Chad, a wandering preacher, traveled on foot from the monastery of Lindisfarne to the people of the Midlands until he became known as the Apostle of the Middle English. Hilda was abbess over both monks and nuns at Whitby. Pope Gregory I sent Augustine and a company of monks to convert the Anglo Saxons from heathenism. Augustine arrived at the mouth of the Thames, where the Jutes had landed 150 years earlier, and succeeded in ingratiating himself with the ruler of Kent. Here he established his headquarters at Canterbury. After a time that center became recognized as the headquarters of Roman Christianity and an important school was maintained there.
Impact: The multiplication of churches and schools followed missionary efforts and the English churches were brought into closer contact with the Catholic system on the Continent. Roman Catholic authority later was extended over Ireland and Scotland.