Synod of Whitby

663/4. An important turning point in the history of the church in England. English Christianity in the seventh century had two main streams. One came from Rome via [[Augustine of Canterbury]] and Paulinus, and the other from the [[Celtic Church]] via Iona and Lindisfarne. There were a number of differences of ethos and of religious observance between these two streams, the most notable of the latter concerning the date on which Easter* was to be celebrated. The issue came to a head in 663 when King Oswy of Northumbria saw that in the following year he would be celebrating Easter when his wife, who had been brought up in Roman ways, would be observing Lent.