f the cross; and the erection of tree
crosses the irmensuls and world trees of
paganism."[452]

This passage, written in 1844, has been abundantly illustrated by the
research of specialists since that date, and, of course, Mr. Frazer's
monumental work will occur to every reader. But, after all, the chief
authority for the action of the Church towards paganism in this
country is the famous letter of Pope Gregory to the Abbot Mellitus in
A.D. 601, as preserved by the historian Beda. It is worth while
quoting this once again, for it is an English historical document of
priceless value. "We have been much concerned," writes the good St.
Gregory,

"since the departure of our congregation that is with
you, because we have received no account of the
success of your journey. When, therefore, Almighty God
shall bring you to the most reverend Bishop Augustine
our brother, tell him what I have, upon mature
deliberation on the affair of the English, determined
upon, namely, that the temples of the idols [fana
idolorum] in that nation [gente] ought not to be
destroyed; but let the idols that are in them be
destroyed; let holy water be made and sprinkled upon
the said temples, let altars be erected and relics
placed. For if these temples be well built, it is
requisite that they be converted from the worship of
devils [daemonum] to the worship of the true God; that
the nation seeing that their temples are not destroyed
may remove error from their hearts, and knowing and
adoring the true God may the more familiarly resort to
the places to which they have been accustomed. And
because they have been used to slaughter many oxen in
the sacrifices to devils some solemnity must be
exchanged for them on this account, so that on the day
of the dedication, or the nativities of the holy
martyrs whose relics are there deposited, they may
build themselves huts of the boughs of trees, about
those churches which have been turned to that use from
temples and celebrate the solemnity with religious
feasting and no more offer beasts to the devil
[diabolo], but kill cattle to the praise of God in
their eating, and return thanks to the giver of all
things for their sustenance."[453]

The church of St. Pancras at Canterbury is claimed to be one of the
temples