This book examines the pastoral and sacramental work of the early medieval church in the British Isles. It provides a synthesis of recent scholarship which has uncovered new evidence about the organisation and structure of the early church and the close relations between monks and clergy and between the 'Roman' and 'Celtic' churches.

It shows how theological ideals were translated into pastoral work and demonstrates the short comings of the 'national church' approach to the history of early British and Irish Christianity. It will become the foundation for most future work on this central field of early medieval history.