Western History 56: How did Christianity spread in Western Europe?

The Early Middle Ages (476-799 CE) were characterized by a rapid spread of Christianity. Conversions of other population groups in the North and East would follow (eg.  Scandinavia by 1000 CE) but by 800 CE Western Europe was largely a Christian entity with the Latin church based in Rome. The following outlines how Christianity spread beyond its Southern European core to the rest of the continent.

Table 12 The Spread of Christianity in Western Europe

Region/Population Group	Agent of Initial Conversion
Ireland	Christianity spread to Ireland from Roman Britain in the 5th century. St. Patrick a Romano-Britain missionary and future patron saint of Ireland is believed to have played a key role. The introduction of private penance is thought to have been an Irish innovation.
Scotland	Irish missionaries Columba and Columbans are credited with bringing Christianity to Scotland.
Anglo-Saxon England	Converted by the mission of St. Augustine and Gregory the Great.
Franks of Gaul	Adopted Christianity after the conversion of the Merovingian king Clovis I.
Frisians and Low Countries	Conversion driven by the Northumbrian Monk Willibrod who was commissioned by Pope Segius I.
German Franks	Conversion was driven by an Anglo-Saxon mission led by Saint Boniface.