The continental Saxons were evangelised largely by English missionaries in the late seventh and early eighth centuries. Around 695, two early English missionaries, Hewald the White and Hewald the Black, were martyred by the , that is, villagers. Throughout the century that followed, villagers and other peasants proved to be the greatest opponents of Christianisation, while missionaries often received the support of the ' and other noblemen. Saint Lebuin, an Englishman who between 745 and 770 preached to the Saxons, mainly in the eastern Netherlands, built a church and made many friends among the nobility. Some of them rallied to save him from an angry mob at the annual council at Marklo (near river Weser, Bremen). Social tensions arose between the Christianity-sympathetic noblemen and the pagan lower castes, who were staunchly faithful to their traditional religion.
the continental saxons were evangelised largely by english missionaries in the late seventh and early eighth centuries around 695 two early english missionaries hewald the white and hewald the black were martyred by the  that is villagers throughout the century that followed villagers and other peasants proved to be the greatest opponents of christianisation while missionaries often received the support of the ' and other noblemen saint lebuin an englishman who between 745 and 770 preached to the saxons mainly in the eastern netherlands built a church and made many friends among the nobility some of them rallied to save him from an angry mob at the annual council at marklo (near river weser bremen) social tensions arose between the christianity-sympathetic noblemen and the pagan lower castes who were staunchly faithful to their traditional religion