Anglo-Saxon Religion

ANGLO-SAXON RELIGION

Early Anglo-Saxons were pagans and like the
Romans believed in many different Gods.
They worshipped in temples, although none have
ever been found by Archaeologists. Later Christian
Anglo-Saxons wrote about such pagan worship.
Looking at place-names can tell us that temples
and shrines existed. Places like Wye, Wheely and
Patchway come from the Saxon word ‘Weoh’
meaning holy place. Places like Harrow and
Harrowdown come from the word ‘hearg’ which
means temple.

Pagan Anglo- Saxons sacrificed animals to their
Gods. The eleventh month of each year was
called Blotmonath or ‘blood-month’ This meant a
month of sacrifices.

It is thought that the Anglo-Saxons also made
human sacrifices to their gods, but although
Archaeologists found bodies at Sutton Hoo, which
could have been sacrificed, no-one knows for sure.
At the end of the sixth century Christianity slowly
began to spread throughout the country.
Stone churches and monasteries were built and
people gave up their pagan beliefs.