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On June 2, 597, the Roman Catholic missionary Augustine baptized the Saxon King Ethelbert in Canterbury, England.
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The curent Cathedral at Canterbury
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Augustine of Canterbury is called the apostle of England. He left his role as prior of the Benedictine monastery of St. Andrew, Rome, to lead 40 monks to evangelize the pagan Saxons in England. When they arrived in southern Gaul (modern day France), they heard rumors of the brutality of the Saxons and returned to Rome. But Gregory would not be denied this mission to England, and so they set out again.
During this time, the wife of King Ethelbert of Kent became a Christian. When Augustine landed in Kent, Ethelbert met the strangers and heard them sing and preach. The king said:
“Your words and promises are very fair; but they are new to us and I cannot forsake the religion I have so long followed with the whole English nation. Yet as you are come from far, and are desirous to benefit us, I will supply you with the necessary sustenance, and not forbid you to preach and to convert as many as you can to your religion.”
Ethelbert allowed the missionaries to reside in Canterbury. They preached and several believed and were baptized. King Ethelbert was converted and baptized, and drew gradually his whole nation after him. On Christmas Day of that year, ten thousand of Ethelbert’s subjects were baptized.
Augustine then sent a delegation to Rome with the report of the remarkable revival and a request for further orders. Gregory responded with more missionaries and orders for Augustine to appoint twelve more bishops over the British. Augustine built the first cathedral at Canterbury and founded the monastery of Saints Peter and Paul outside of the city.
His tombstone in Canterbury reads:
“Here rests Augustine, first archbishop of Canterbury, who being sent hither by Gregory, bishop of Rome, reduced King Ethelbert and his nation from the worship of idols to the faith of Christ.”
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