The Church

Officially the Roman Empire was Christian at the start of the 5th century, but there is evidence of rural pagan temples being refurbished at the start of this period in western Prydain. However, most temples seem to have been replaced eventually by Christian churches on the same site or nearby. "Celtic" churches or monasteries seem to have flourished during this period in the British areas, such as that at Caer Witrin (near modern Glastonbury), but the "Saxons" were pagan. This reinforced a great antipathy between the peoples.

In 429, a British Deacon Palladius had requested support from the Pope in Rome to combat Pelagianism. Bishops Germanus and Lupus of Troyes were sent. Germanus, a former military commander, is reported to have led the British to the "Hallelujah" victory, possibly in Wales. Germanus is said to have made a second visit to England later. Participation by a British bishop at a synod in Gaul demonstrates that at least some British churches were in full administrative and doctrinal touch with Gaul as late as 455.

All of the major cities of Prydain are openly Christian, with varying degrees of suppression or tolerance toward "pagan" beliefs depending upon how far away they are from Rome. Londinium, for example, is completely Catholic and extremely intolerant of anything not official Church doctrine (though this may be a reaction to that city's declining fortunes) while a northern city like Eboracum is generally more pagan than Christian.

Hierarchy

Officially, four archbishops are supposed to be assigned to Prydain, located in Londinium, Eboracum (York), Lindum (Lincoln) and Corinium Dobunnorum (Cirencester.) Corinium Dobunnorum fell to Scoti raiders in 453 Anno Domini, though the bishop in question, Paulus Merdinus survived; his brother of the cloth at Lindum was not so fortunate when Pictish reavers burned it to the ground in A.D. 455.

Bishop Vodinus of Londinium was martyred by the Saecsens in 453. No one has been elected to replace him.

This leaves only Bishop Cassius of Eboracum alive, which technically grants him the authority of Archbishop of Prydain.

As a side note, Bishop Palladius, once the "Bishop of Scotia" (or Ireland), is said to have been banished by the King of Leinster, Crimthann mac Énnai.