Early Christianity In Mann

It has traditionally been believed that Christianity was brought to the Isle of Man from Celtic Ireland by St. Patrick. Although there is no precise evidence of particular individuals, the first Christian missionaries must have arrived around 500 AD, from other Celtic countries, and from Ireland in particular.

The missionaries built tiny chapels (keeills), set in burial grounds amidst lintel graves and often with a holy well (chibbyr) near-by. The priest would have prayed inside the chapel, but preached and baptised his flock outside. The earliest simple memorial stones carved with crosses date from this period.

174 such keeills are recorded, but the remains of only 35 can be identified today. All traces of the earliest keeills have been lost in re-building; many medieval churches, such as Kirk Maughold and Kirk Christ Malew, were erected on keeill sites.

The keeills were probably served by priests from monastic centres like Kirk Maughold, the major monastery on the Island at that time.