Justus
Archbishop of Canterbury
Overview
Our knowledge of Justus’s life primarily comes from Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People. According to Bede, Justus was part of the second group of missionaries sent by Pope Gregory I to convert the Anglo-Saxons. Shortly after Æthelberht of Kent’s conversion, St. Augustine consecrated Justus as the first Bishop of Rochester in 604 CE, a church dedicated to St. Andrew, approximately 24 miles from Canterbury.
Both Bede and William of Malmesbury provide few records of Justus’s life as Bishop of Rochester or Archbishop of Canterbury. William of Malmesbury writes, “Very few, in fact hardly any, of the deeds of the bishops of the town [Rochester] I have come across seem to me worth recording.” Despite Malmesbury’s apathy towards Justus, there are glimpses of his time at Rochester.
Image: St. Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury – gravestone of Justus, fourth archbishop of Canterbury
Shortly after his consecration as Bishop of Rochester, his name appears as a witness to a charter of King Æthelberht in 604, found in the Textus Roffensis. Additionally, Justus’s name is attached to a letter to the Irish Church, recorded by Bede, urging them to observe the same date of Easter as the Roman Catholic Church. He is also listed as an attendee of the Council of Paris in 614, called by Chlothar II, King of the Franks.
Following the death of King Æthelberht of Kent in 616, the political and religious landscape of Kent changed dramatically. Æthelberht’s successor, Eadbald, attempted to restore pagan practices, prompting Justus to flee to Gaul for safety, possibly seeking refuge at the court of Chlothar II. Despite these challenges, Justus remained committed to his mission and was able to return to Kent in 617, ultimately converting Eadbald to Christianity. While Bede records that it was Archbishop Laurentius who converted Eadbald, a letter from Pope Boniface to Justus, also in recorded by Bede, clarifies that it was, in fact, Justus who converted the king.
After the death of Archbishop Mellitus in 624, Justus succeeded him as the Archbishop of Canterbury. In recognition of his efforts and dedication, he received the pallium from Pope Boniface, symbolizing his authority and connection to the broader church. This honor not only confirmed his leadership but also reinforced the ties between the English Church and Rome. <Read Justus’ Promotion to Archbishop >
Following this, Justus consecrated Romanus as his successor at Rochester and Paulinus as the first Bishop of York, demonstrating his commitment to expanding and consolidating the Christian mission in England. Paulinus’s mission to the Kingdom of Northumbria, which led to the conversion of King Edwin, was a significant milestone during Justus’s tenure and contributed to the spread of Christianity in northern England.
Justus’s short tenure as archbishop is often overshadowed by Paulinus’s achievements, but his contributions were foundational. He played a crucial role in maintaining the momentum of the Christian mission initiated by Augustine and in ensuring the stability and continuity of the Church in a period of political and religious upheaval. Bede records that Justus died on November 10, 627.
Related Topics
Further Research & Sources
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Translated by J. A. Giles, edited by William Smith, Project Gutenberg, 2005, – https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/657
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Translated and edited by Michael Swanton. New York, NY. Routledge Press. 1996.
Bede. Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Translated and edited by Judith McClure and Roger Collins. Oxford, UK. Oxford University Press. 2008.
Deanesly, Margaret. The Pre-Conquest Church in England. London. Adam and Charles Black. 1963.
Malmesbury, William. The Deeds of the Bishops of England (Gesta Pontificum Anglorum). Translated by David Preest. Rochester, NY. Boydell Press. 2002.
Stenton, Frank. Anglo-Saxon England. Oxford, UK. Oxford University Press. 1971.
Whitelock, Dorothy, ed. English Historical Documents. Volume 1: c.500-1042. Routledge Press. 1996.
Photos:
St Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury – gravestone of Justus, fourth archbishop of Canterbury – Ealdgyth, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.