Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

MISSION OF ST. -GREGORY.
19
you have travelled so far to us, and it seems clear
to me that you have wished to tell us that which
you believe to be true and best, I will not molest
you. On the contrary, I will see that you enjoy a
kind, hospitality, and receive necessary food. Nor do
I forbid you to gain as many as you can to your
religion." l
Ethelbert meant what he said. He assigned the
missionaries a dwelling-place, called Stable Gate,
in his little capital, and they made a solemn entry
into Canterbury. The church of St. Martin, just
outside the town, had been built by Britons in
Bo man times. Queen Bertha had used it, and now
Augustine and his companions hallowed it afresh
with their prayers and masses.2 Their life was so
truly apostolical, and so fully bore out their teaching,
that Ethelbert was soon won over to the " Word of
life ". He was baptised on Pentecost Day at St.
Martin's, and on Christmas Day following 10,000
Kentish men received the sacrament of regeneration.3
Ethelbert made over his royal dwelling at Canterbury
to Augustine. Moreover, to f the east of the city the
king further bestowed on him a heathen temple and
the adjoining land. Augustine converted the temple
into a church, and laid the first stone of the religious
house subsequently f called St. Augustine's Monastery.
The walls of Christchurch Cathedral rose close to the
1 Hist. Eccles., lib. i cap. xxv.
- Bede uses the words, missas facere, lib. i. cap. xxvi.
3 Bridget t, History of the Holy Eucharist in Great Britain, ii. 87