Saint Augustine of Canterbury

detail of an illustration of Saint Augustine of Canterbury, date unknown, artist unknown Also known as

Apostle to the Anglo-Saxons
Apostle to the English
Austin of Canterbury

27 May
28 May on some calendars
26 May in England and Wales

Profile

Monk and abbot of Saint Andrew’s abbey in Rome, Italy. Sent by Pope Saint Gregory the Great with 40 brother monks, including Saint Lawrence of Canterbury to evangelize the British Isles in 597. Before he reached the islands, terrifying tales of the Celts sent him back to Rome in fear, but Gregory told him he had no choice, and so he went. He established and spread the faith throughout England; one of his earliest converts was King AEthelberht who brought 10,000 of his people into the Church. Ordained as a bishop in Gaul (modern France) by the archbishop of Arles. First Archbishop of Canterbury, England. Helped re-establish contact between the Celtic and Latin churches, though he could not establish his desired uniformity of liturgy and practices between them. Worked with Saint Justus of Canterbury. Anglican Archbishops of Canterbury are still referred to as occupying the Chair of Augustine.

Born

at Rome, Italy

Died

26 May 605 in Canterbury, England of natural causes
relics interred outside the church of Saints Peter and Paul, Canterbury, a building project he had started

Canonized