Saint Ethelbert; Saint Albert

Confessor (560-616), King of Kent. He married Bertha, daughter of the Frankish king, Charibert, and afforded her every opportunity for the exercise of her religion. When he was baptized by Saint Augustine, 597, his supremacy in southern Britain led to the baptism of 10,000 of his countrymen within a few months. Thenceforth he was the watchful father of the Anglo-Saxon Church. Among others he founded at Canterbury the church which was afterwards to be the primatial cathedral of England. He issued their first written laws to the English people. He was popularly called Saint Albert, and is known under this name as titular saint of numerous churches in England. His relics were preserved at Canterbury. Feast, 24 February.

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