Augustine’s mission in 597 marked a decisive turning point in the religious and cultural transformation of Anglo-Saxon England, laying foundations for Christianity’s enduring influence.

The Background to Augustine’s Mission

The late sixth century in England was characterised by a patchwork of pagan Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and pockets of lingering Christian communities in Britain and Ireland. These Christian groups were remnants of the Roman presence and the native British Church, but their influence was fragmented and largely confined to the west. In contrast, the Anglo-Saxon settlers, particularly in the east and south, practised polytheistic Germanic religion with gods such as Woden and Thunor at the centre of belief.

Pope Gregory the Great initiated a mission to convert the Anglo-Saxons. According to Bede, Gregory famously remarked on seeing Anglo-Saxon slaves in Rome, describing them as not Angles but angels, prompting his resolve to send missionaries to England.

Augustine’s Arrival and First Missionary Steps

In 597, Augustine, a monk from Rome, was chosen by Gregory to lead the mission. After initial hesitation and a near-abandonment of the project due to fears of the distant and hostile Anglo-Saxons, Augustine landed in Kent, one of the more politically powerful kingdoms.

Map of England and Wales around c.600 showing Kent and other Anglo-Saxon and British polities. This situates Augustine’s mission within the political mosaic he encountered. The map also includes Celtic regions beyond Kent (extra detail not required by the syllabus). Source

The Role of Æthelberht and Kent

The success of Augustine’s mission was greatly influenced by King Æthelberht of Kent, whose kingdom held strategic importance due to its proximity to Frankish Gaul. Æthelberht’s marriage to the Christian princess Bertha of Kent, daughter of the Frankish king Charibert, had already introduced Christian practice into the Kentish court.

• Æthelberht permitted Augustine to settle in Canterbury.

• He allowed preaching but initially did not compel conversion.

• His cautious support provided Augustine with legitimacy and security.

Augustine’s diplomatic skill combined with papal support ensured that his mission was both religious and political. By establishing Canterbury as his base, Augustine laid the foundations of what would become the Archbishopric of Canterbury, the primatial seat of the English Church.

View along the nave ruins of St Augustine’s Abbey, founded in 598 by Augustine. The site became a focal point for organisation, worship, and missionary work in Kent. Visible later medieval features appear alongside the early monastic footprint (extra detail not required by the syllabus). Source

The Process of Christianisation

Christianisation in Kent began through Augustine’s preaching, baptisms, and establishment of ecclesiastical structures. The process unfolded in stages:

• Initial conversions: Æthelberht converted, likely for political and spiritual reasons, and many of his subjects followed.

• Building churches: Augustine established St Augustine’s Abbey and restored the old Roman church of St Martin’s in Canterbury.

• Organisation of clergy: Priests and bishops were appointed to consolidate Christian teaching and liturgy.

• Papal involvement: Augustine sought guidance from Gregory on issues such as integrating pagan customs, clerical discipline, and establishing dioceses.

The Integration of Pagan and Christian Practices

One of Gregory’s most important instructions was to adapt rather than eradicate pagan customs. He advised Augustine to convert pagan temples into churches and to transform pagan festivals into Christian celebrations. This flexible approach eased cultural tensions and facilitated acceptance of Christianity among the Anglo-Saxons.

• Pagan feasts were reinterpreted as Christian holy days.

• Sacred sites were re-sanctified under Christian meaning.

• Syncretism allowed continuity while embedding Christian values.

The Wider Spread of Christianity

While Augustine’s initial mission focused on Kent, its influence spread gradually to other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms:

• Essex: Through missionary activity supported by Kentish connections.

• Northumbria: Later influenced by missionaries from both Rome and Ireland.

• East Anglia and Mercia: Conversion efforts advanced unevenly, often dependent on royal favour.

The spread was not uniform, with setbacks such as apostasy and resistance in certain regions. Conversion was often linked to political allegiance; rulers who accepted Christianity could use it to strengthen ties with powerful Christian neighbours, particularly the Franks.

Challenges to Augustine’s Mission

Despite early success, Augustine faced significant challenges:

• Cultural resistance from pagan communities wary of abandoning ancestral traditions.

• Conflict with the Celtic Church in Britain, which had developed independently with different practices, particularly concerning the date of Easter and monastic traditions.

• Fragility of conversions, since many followed the king’s example and were not always deeply rooted in personal conviction.

Significance of Augustine’s Mission

Augustine’s mission had both immediate and long-term significance:

• It established Roman Christianity as the dominant form in England.

• Canterbury became the centre of ecclesiastical authority, enduring to the present.

• Links with the Papacy strengthened Anglo-Saxon ties to continental Europe.

Illuminated folio 129v from the St Augustine Gospels, a late antique Gospel book linked by tradition to Augustine’s mission. It exemplifies the Roman liturgical and manuscript culture introduced to Kent. The intricate evangelist portraiture is artistic detail beyond the syllabus’s core scope. Source

• The mission initiated a process of religious, cultural, and political transformation, influencing law, literacy, and identity in Anglo-Saxon England.

In the long run, Augustine’s work was foundational, though incomplete in his lifetime. The Christianisation of England would be consolidated over the following century through the combined efforts of Roman and Celtic missionaries, culminating in greater unity at the Synod of Whitby (664).