Religious buildings and artefacts
I can explain what archaeologists and historians think they have found out about Christianity in Anglo-Saxon Britain from buildings and artefacts.
Religious buildings and artefacts
I can explain what archaeologists and historians think they have found out about Christianity in Anglo-Saxon Britain from buildings and artefacts.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Historians believe that Anglo-Saxon churches were built on sites of older pagan temples and places of worship.
- Archaeologists have found the remains of Anglo-Saxon churches and monasteries, such as Jarrow Abbey.
- These were centres of manuscript making and learning; Bede entered one aged 7 and went on to write a history of Britain.
- The Franks Casket, a 700s CE Northumbrian chest, has both pagan imagery and the Christian Adoration of the Magi.
- Historians argue about what else it shows, but it does suggest pagan traditions continued after Christianity’s spread.
Keywords
Pagan - a pagan is a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions
Monastery - a monastery is a building where monks live and work together dedicated to religious life
Manuscript - a manuscript is a handwritten document usually from ancient or medieval times
Imagery - imagery is a way of describing pictures and patterns that can be seen on items
Common misconception
Pupils may think that as soon as Christianity returned to Britain, pagan traditions disappeared completely.
Paganism did not completely vanish. Though the majority of Anglo-Saxons were Christians, pagan beliefs and traditions were still present.
To help you plan your year 5 history lesson on: Religious buildings and artefacts, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 history lesson on: Religious buildings and artefacts, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 2 history lessons from the The Anglo-Saxons: how do we know about life in Anglo-Saxon England? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a person who has beliefs other than those of the main world religions
a building where monks live and work together
a handwritten document usually from ancient or medieval times
a way of describing pictures and patterns that can be seen on items