What is Celtic Christianity?
Celtic Christianity is a powerful, yet ancient strand of faith in God – Father Son and Holy Spirit. The Trinitarian nature of the Christian Celts was evident in their daily life and prayers. Confirmation of this is found in many of their writings and artwork.
St Patrick is probably the most well known name associated with Celtic Christianity. Patrick’s Confessions is a wonderful document that reveals how the Scriptures permeated every aspect of his daily life and ministry. It also makes clear that these early Christians in Ireland, Scotland and Wales fully embraced the natural world in which they lived. This is evident in much of the Celtic poetry and prose, yet they did not see or understand creation to be identical to God.
Rather they saw God in and through His creation.
Celtic Christianity became fully romanized in 590 A.D through the decisions made at the Synod of Whitby. In recent times, the New Age movement has popularized Celtic Spirituality with a focus on shamanism and Druidism. 316 seeks to claim back the ancient Celtic Christianity that had Christ at the center and embraced the Trinity in all their fullness.
These words of Michael Mitton, from his book ‘Restoring the Woven Cord’ covers much of why we at 316 are excited to be called by God to be a Celtic Christian Church.
“I discovered a burning and evangelical love for the Bible…a depth of spiritual life and stillness…a radical commitment to the poor and to God’s creation; and the most attractive expression of charismatic life that I had yet encountered. … I am in no doubt that the Spirit of God is reminding us of the first expression of faith in these isles to give us inspiration for Christian ministry and mission today.”
Four of the main strands of Celtic Christianity are:
These four strands are the focus of 316’s ministry.