year of wonders

The Christian faith in England had a difficult history; it fought with older pagan religions until Christianity finally became the predominant creed. Many early Christians mixed their symbols and beliefs with the longstanding religions in order to make Christian doctrine appear more acceptable. As Anna ponders this history, she is conscious of how there was a seeming war between spiritual factions while the simple craftsman was caught in the middle. She relates to the craftsman because she too is caught between her faith in a loving God and the possibility of a newly vengeful God who is causing suffering in her village.