Augustine of Canterbury
Known as the "Apostle of the English," Augustine (also called Austin; not to be confused with Augustine of Hippo) founded the Christian Church in southern England and became the first archbishop of Canterbury.
Little is known about Augustine's early years; he was probably born to aristocrats in Rome. In the 590s Pope Gregory I selected Augustine as leader of a mission of several dozen monks to England. The mission was well-received by King Ethelbert of Kent, who offered them places to live, allowed them to preach, and supported their efforts of conversion.
On December 25, 597, Augustine baptized thousands of Ethelbert's subjects. This extraordinary achievement encouraged Pope Gregory to send even more missionaries to England, who were placed under Augustine's jurisdiction. Saint Augustine founded Christ Church and the Monastery of Saints Peter and Paul, which would become known after his death as St. Augustine's. Christ Church would become the cathedral of Archbishop Augustine, and St. Augustine's monastery would become the second Benedictine house in Christendom.
Due to the achievements of Augustine, Canterbury would become the Catholic Church's primatial see of England.
Important Dates
Died: May 26, 604 or 605
On the Web
Bede: Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, Book I
This segment of Bede's history includes information about Augustine. Provided online at Paul Halsall's Medieval Sourcebook.Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Augustine of Canterbury
Extensive overview of Augustine's work in England, by Cornelius Clifford.St. Augustine of Canterbury
Concise description of Augustine's mission to England by Terry Matz at Catholic Online.St. Martin Church in Canterbury
Nice photo and a little background on the first church used by St. Augustine in England, by Ghazwan Butrous.
In Print
The link below will take you to mySimon, where you can compare prices at booksellers across the web. More in-depth info about the book may be found by clicking on to the book's page at one of the online merchants.
Augustine of Canterbury
by Margaret Dennesly
Related Resources
Dark-Age Britain
A directory of sites that examine Britain during late antiquity, or the "dark ages," from Sub-Roman cultures to the end of Anglo-Saxon England.Hagiography
Indices, primary sources, and general sites focusing on the study of Saints' lives.
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