598—Start of St Augustine’s Church
By C4 Britannia had been converted to Christianity, but, after the withdrawal of the legions, isolation from Rome and increasing non-Christian Anglo-Saxon settlement led to distinct practices, such as the date of Easter and the emphasis of monasteries rather than bishoprics. In 598 a mission sent by Pope Gregory, consisting of forty missionaries led by Augustine, arrived in Canterbury, where King Ethelbert permitted them to preach and gave them land, including an old Roman church. Ethelbert accepted baptism in about 601. Augustine established his see in this church, which became Canterbury Cathedral. It was rebuilt after destruction by fire in 1067.
890s—Army & navy established
Alfred the Great spent much of his reign resisting Viking intrusions into Wessex. After his victory over them at Edington in 878, the Vikings withdrew to the north of a line from London to Chester. Alfred established a system of fortified burths (boroughs) and reformed his military organisation into a standing army of two alternating parts, one at home and
