While Gregory was an abbot of a Benedictine convent, he saw in the slave-market of Rome three Anglo-Saxon boys offered for sale. He was impressed with them and asked the name of their nation.

When they said, “We are Angles,” he replied, “Right, for you have angelic faces and are worthy to be fellow-heirs with angels in heaven.” He then asked them the name of their province.

“Deira,” they said.

“Truly,” he responded, “you are De-ira-ns, that is, plucked from the ire of God and called to the mercy of Christ.”

“And what is your king’s name.”

“Aella.”

“Hallelujah,” he exclaimed, “the praise of God the Creator must be sung in those parts.”

He immediately entreated the pope to send missionaries to England, offering to go himself. He started for England, but was recalled to Rome and elected pope. After his election, he devoted himself to alleviating the misery of the poor in Rome, using church revenues to aid those who were starving.

A few later, he appointed Augustine,  the prior of the monastery of St. Andrew’s, to fulfill his mission to the pagan Saxons in England. When Augustine arrived in southern Gaul, he heard rumors of the brutality of the Saxons and returned to Rome. However, Gregory would not be denied. He commanded Augustine to go.

In the meantime, God was preparing Ethelbert, the Saxon king of southeastern England, for Augustine’s arrival. His wife Bertha had recently become a Christian.

When Augustine arrived in England, she urged her husband to meet him. Ethelbert, who worshipped the Norse god Odin, was convinced that Augustine’s “magic” could only work in a building, and so he agreed to meet him outdoors. When he heard the missionaries sing and preach he 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.”

He allowed Augustine to reside in Canterbury, the center of his kingdom. It would soon become the center of the Church in England. Augustine was also allowed to preach to Ethelbert’s subjects. Within the year, Ethelbert became a Christian.

On Christmas Day of 597, Augustine baptized Ethelbert and thousands of his subjects. 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.

Because of Gregory’s missionary burden, the gospel came to England and soon spread over the entire nation.