Sacred Wonders of Britain

A history of Britain seen through the lens of its beliefs, rituals and religions. A must see for all history buffs. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Episode 1 considers the potential religious motivations of ice age cave painting, Stone Age long barrows and the flint mines at Grimes Graves. We watch the abandonment of barrows and ancestor worship for the building of circles and avenues of standing stones that first emerges in the north then spreads south.

Episode 2 covers a period where sacrificing precious items and sometimes people, especially into water, becomes important. As the Empire from Rome take over Druids are driven out but the Celtic and Roman deities are conflated together. Christianity emerges firstly as a secret sect and though later it sweeps away the old gods the places of worship remain the same.

Episode 3 covers the rise of Celtic Christianity after the dark ages and its absorption into the Church of Rome. It follows St Cuthbert's journey before and after his death, the making of the martyr Beckett and why the reformation affected Glastonbury more than most places.

Neil Oliver has done a few British history documentaries, he also presented; Face of Britain (2008), A History of Scotland (2010), A History of Ancient Britain (2011), Vikings (2012) and The Celts - Blood, Iron & Sacrifice (2015).