Also known as
    Apostle to the Anglo-Saxons
    Apostle to the English
    Austin

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

Profile
    Monk and abbot of Saint Andrew's abbey in Rome. Sent by Pope 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 a bishop in Gaul (modern France) by the archbishop of Arles. Bishop of Canterbury. First Archbishop of Canterbury. 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

Patronage
    England