St Augustine of Canterbury

Augustine was a monk and became the Abbot (leader) of St. Andrew’s monastery in Rome. Pope Gregory the Great chose him and 40 other monks to go on a mission to England to bring the people living there the Gospel. They were warned by the people of France not to go there, because the Celts in England were very mean. So all the monks asked Abbot Augustine to talk to the Pope and change his mind, so that they would not have to go because they were scared. The Pope did not change his mind because he knew the people in England wanted to know Jesus. They were welcomed in England and even King Ethelbert listened to their message and was baptized into the family of God. Abbot Augustine became a Bishop during their first year of mission. Bishop Augustine was able to perform miracles and through him many people came to know God. In the city of Canterbury, England, Bishop Augustine built a church and a monastery, which became very important in England.