Of major importance to the Anglo-Saxon church in the period c.650-c.850, church councils played a vital role in the organisation of church life, as well as functioning as a forum for the meetings of kings and bishops.

This study investigates fundamental issues of organisation: How frequently did Anglo-Saxon church councils meet? Who attended? Where did they meet? By answering such questions, Cubitt reveals the prominent role of church councils within Anglo-Saxon ecclesiastical and political developments. Individual case studies of councils and their canons focus on their contribution to the reform and development of the Church, while continental comparisons provide a much wider contemporary framework.

The significant political and ecclesiastical changes of the time are reflected and illuminated by this fascinating history of Anglo-Saxon church councils, which illustrates the reforming initiatives of Anglo-Saxon bishops in response to contemporary pressures, and reveals tensions between the sacred and civil power.