Justus, St

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Justus, St (d. c.627). Sent, according to Bede, by Pope Gregory I with Mellitus to Kent in 601, and consecrated bishop in Rochester by Augustine in 604, Justus was associated with Archbishop Laurentius' exhortations to bishops and abbots in Ireland, and to British priests, to follow Roman practices. The accession of pagan kings in Kent and over the East Saxons prompted all three to decide to return to Rome, but after a year awaiting developments in Gaul, Justus and Mellitus, whom Justus succeeded as fourth archbishop of Canterbury in 624, were recalled. Justus consecrated Romanus to replace him at Rochester, and died on 10 November in, probably, 627, certainly no later than 631. As bishop he played some part in the conversion of Eadbald of Kent, he consecrated Paulinus to carry the torch to Northumbria, probably in 625, and maintained links with the papacy.

A. E. Redgate

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