GD13 Fusion

The Celtic Saints mission to bring Christianity to the people of Britain and Ireland incorporated and celebrated with passion much of the spirituality of the pre- Christian Celtic tradition. The conversion process began in the fifth century and by the ninth century, created a new culture in which pagan elements and Christianity amalgamated. This included the ‘baptising’ of holy wells, the belief in the afterlife, and the emphasis on humanity’s oneness with nature. The conversion came from a genuine change of religious perceptions, rather than a brutal clash of faiths and cultures. This is expressed in the form of the Celtic cross, which evolved from the ancient symbol of the divine sun wheel.