From the early days, Gloucestershire played its part in the development of Christianity in England. The great River Severn provided the division between the Roman and Celtic churches.

Legend speaks of Joseph of Aramathea’s visit to Glastonbury and he may have ventured north to Gloucestershire. There is mention, too, of the visit of the Virgin Mary to Hempsted, on the river near Gloucester – a place now marked as ‘Lady’s Well’.

Legend also tells of a Roman soldier, Rufus Prudens, in the garrison of Cirencester who married a local Christian princess, Claudia, and had a son, Linus who eventually became second Bishop of Rome. All three are mentioned in the scriptures in St Paul’s second letter to Timothy.

When the Roman Empire crumbled, order (in spite of Viking invasions) came through the efforts of great Kings such as Alfred of Wessex and Offa of Mercia. The two strands of Christianity which had emerged, Roman and Celtic, settled their differences on the banks of the River Severn, reputedly at a place called ‘Augustine’s Oak’, near Aust.

During Anglo-Saxon times, Christianity once again spread throughout the land. Places like Tewkesbury, Winchcombe and Bisley were important centers. Spreading the Christian faith meant going to remote parts – where crosses (later called ‘Preaching Crosses’) marked a gathering point for local people, such as those at Lypiatt near Stroud, and at Clearwell. Odda’s Chapel, a rare Anglo-Saxon chapel dating from 1056 and tombstones at Bilbury Church, give an indication of the Christian faith at this time.