Spring Tide
Spring Tide takes place in Britain during the last days of the Roman Empire.
It is A. D. 311 in West Britain and, even in this far-flung province of the Roman Empire, Christians are not safe from renewed imperial persecution. At Caer Taff (modern-day Cardiff) a brief skirmish against a marauding tribe, the Deisi, develops into a more dangerous struggle between the new religion and the dominant pagan culture of the local Roman fort.
Two friends, Julius and Con, meet and befriend Brychan, a young Christian priest, who is later captured and imprisoned at the base camp of the legion. Torn between obedience to parental orders and the demands of friendship, the boys resolve to help him escape.
Aided by Aaron the Hebrew, a Roman soldier who has secretly converted to Christianity after witnessing the martyrdom of St. Alban seven years earlier, they set out to rescue Brychan. But they have no idea about how grave the consequences might be…
This thoughtful story highlights the boys’ courage, which will have an impact on all the characters involved. It also plays its part in bringing about the “spring tide” of hope that will eventually result in the Edict of Milan of A.D. 313 – and religious tolerance for all Christians.
- About the author: Born in 1932 in Rugby, England, Mary Ray has had a varied educational and professional life. She attended the College of Arts and Crafts in Birmingham and later trained as a social worker in London and more recently, upon retirement acquired a B.A. Hons in Classical Civilization at the University of Kent and an M.A. in Church History.
