Peter of Canterbury was the first abbot of St Augustine's, which was then
called St Peter and
St Paul, Peter was probably the monk of that name who was sent by Augustine
to give news of the first Anglo-Saxon conversions to Gregory the Great and
brought back to England, Gregory's replies to Augustine's questions.
Peter was sent later on a mission to Gaul, but was drowned in the English
Channel in the Bay of Ambleteuse (Amfleet). The local inhabitants, according
to Bede, buried him in an 'unworthy place' but as the result of a prodigy of
mysterious light appearing over his grave at night, translated his relics to
a church in Boulogne with suitable honour.
At St Augustine's Canterbury, his feast was kept on the 30th December, other
authorities give 6th January.
Written and contributed by Phillip Lloyd.
