Augustine of Canterbury
6th-century missionary, archbishop, and saint
Feast: 27 May (current Roman calendar, optional memorial) · 28 May (1962 Missal, III class)
Who they were
Augustine was prior of St Andrew's monastery on the Caelian Hill in Rome when Pope Gregory the Great, moved by the beauty of some Anglo slaves he had seen in Rome, decided to send monks to evangelise the English. King Ethelbert of Kent was married to a Christian princess, Bertha, and had allowed her a church.
Leading about forty monks, Augustine obeyed though the land was unknown and hostile. In Kent, preaching and adapting to local customs, he baptised over ten thousand Saxons in a year, including the king. In 601 the Pope sent him the pallium and made him metropolitan of England; he consecrated bishops for London and Rochester, and died in 604. He is buried at Canterbury and venerated by Catholics and Anglicans.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: Augustine has been honoured as a saint since his death. He is the first Archbishop of Canterbury.
Why that counted as sanctity
Augustine said yes to being sent where he did not want to go, out of obedience to the Pope, and so became the apostle of the English.
Connected on this site
- Gregory I Saint“He was the prior of a Benedictine monastery in Rome when Pope Gregory I chose him in 595 to lead a mission, usually known as the Gregorian mission, to Britain to Christianize King Æthelberht and his Kingdom of Kent from Anglo-Saxon paganism.” — Wikipedia
- Laurence of Canterbury Saint“Augustine also arranged the consecration of his successor, Laurence of Canterbury.” — Wikipedia
- Syagrius of Autun Saint“He provided hospitality to Saint Augustine of Canterbury on the latter's way to England.” — Wikipedia
- Virgilius of Arles Saint“Gregory several times requested Virgilius (596, 601) to extend a welcome to Augustine of Canterbury and his monks, whom he was sending to England.” — Wikipedia
- Éthère de Lyon Saint“He is notable as the bishop who consecrated Augustine of Canterbury to go to England.” — Wikipedia
- Christopher Bales Blessed“Condemned for treason for being a priest, he asked the judge whether St Augustine of Canterbury was also a traitor.” — this site's research
- Vatican News - Saint of the day (Italian): Augustine of Canterbury
- Wikidata Q32520 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Augustine of Canterbury (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.