Statue of Bertha, Queen of Kent

Image: © Rob Farrow Taken: 6 Aug 2012

Bertha was born a Frankish princess, the daughter of Charibert I, Merovingian King of Paris in about 539AD. The Merovingians were Christians, and when Bertha married the pagan Aethelbert (see Image]) he allowed her to continue her religion (see Image]) bringing her priest, Liudhard with her from France. It is thought that Bertha played a considerable rôle in persuading Pope (later St.) Gregory the Great to send Augustine to Christianize the pagan peoples of southern England. She certainly influenced her husband Aethelbert to receive the missionaries when they arrived and to treat them well. (see Image] for more information). Bertha died in 612, four years before Aethelbert, and was buried at the monastery which Augustine had founded in Canterbury (see Image] et al) Bertha was canonized (made a saint) along with her husband for their parts in re-establishing* Christianity in England. (*Note: England had been Christian for a while under the Romans, and after they left the Celtish peoples mainly carried on this religion, but the arrival of the pagan Anglo-Saxons meant that the Celts were largely driven out of England to Wales, Scotland and Ireland, so England became pagan again.) To see the two statues together see Image]

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