Mellitus was the first bishop of London in the Saxon period, the third archbishop of Canterbury, and a member of the Gregorian mission sent to England to convert the Anglo-Saxons from their native paganism to Christianity. He arrived in 601 AD with a group of clergy sent to augment the mission, and was consecrated as Bishop of London in 604. Mellitus was the recipient of a famous letter from Pope Gregory I known as the Epistola ad Mellitum, preserved in a later work by the medieval chronicler Bede, which suggested the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons be undertaken gradually, integrating pagan rituals and customs. In 610, Mellitus returned to Italy to attend a council of bishops and returned to England bearing papal letters to some of the missionaries.
Christian feast day: Mellitus
Christian feast day: Mellitus
On April 24, in the year 0, Christian feast day: Mellitus. This event is recorded as a Holidays event in the history of April 24, a notable event in this corner of history.
Key Facts
- This event took place on April 24, 0 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Holidays event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 1 Wikipedia article.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 26 March 2026.
On This Date in History
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