Was Christianity banned in England ever?

Answer 1

England became part of Roman territory in AD 43, and therefore Christianity in England came under the policy of the Roman Empire. Until Constantine's conversion in 312, Christianity was sometime persecuted but mostly tolerated religion. England would have shared in this varied pattern, with the policy of the local governor influencing the treatment of Christians within his territory.

There were two empire-wide persecutions of Christians. The first was in AD 250, under Emperor Decius; the second was in the period 303-313 being the Great Persecution launched by Emperor Diocletian, and continued by his successors.

It is quite unlikely that Christians escaped the persecution under Decius. However, it is likely that Constantius Chlorus (Constantine's father), who was under-ruler of Britain at that time appears to have deflected as much as he could the full force of Diocletian's persecution. Constantius Chlorus died in 306, and his son, Constantine, took power in Britain, and (as far as we know) Constantine avoided proscribing the Christian religion.