Honorius served as the fifth Archbishop of Canterbury between 627 and 653. For more than 50 tumultuous years he was involved in the establishment of Roman Christianity in England.
Bede tells us that Honorius was a disciple of Pope Gregory the Great, which suggests that he began his career as a monk in Rome. Otherwise, personal details are lacking.
It is not clear whether Honorius first came to Canterbury with St Augustine in 597, or with St Mellitus in 601.
By tradition, Pope Gregory was inspired to organise St Augustine’s mission by the sight of some English boys in Rome. “Non Angli sed Angeli”, he is supposed to have described them.
