Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop

Saint Gregory the Great, pope during Augustine’s adult life, wanted to evangelize Anglo-Saxon England. He selected thirty monks, and their prior, Augustine. This group set out for England in 596. King Ethelbert was baptized the following year as well as many of his followers, though he did not force anyone to become Christian. Pope Gregory outlined for Augustine the steps that he should take to establish the Church of England. He was to substitute feast days of saints for heathen festivals. Pagan temples were to be purified and consecrated as Christian churches. Augustine continued to spread the faith and establish churches and abbeys. He died seven years after he arrived in England.