"Angles? rather they are angels"

Bede told us the story of the first meeting of Gregory with the English people. The story was most probably quoted from the first biography of Gregory the Great, written in Whitby between 704-714 :

Gregory when he was still a papal deacon was among the crowd in the Roman Forum.
Among the merchandise he saw some boys with fair complexions, handsome faces, and lovely hair put up for sale. He asked from where they had come.
"from the Island of Britain, whose inhabitants were like that in appearance" he was told.
Gregory asked if those islanders were Christians; the answer was "They are heathen".
Then with a deep-drawn sigh Gregory said "Alas that the author of darkness should have men so bright of face in his grip, and that minds devoid of the inward grace should bear so graceful an outward form"
Gregory turned to the boys and asked" What is the name of your race"
"We are called Angli". they answered.
"Angles?" he exclaimed. "Say rather they are angels! What a pity that God's grace does not dwell within those beautiful brows!". Then he asked " What is the name of your King?"
"Aelli" they answered
Gregory immediately shouted "Alleluia, God's praise must be head there, what is the name of your tribe?"
"Deire" they said
"They shall flee from the wrath of God (de ira dei) to the faith" Gregory said

He purchased all of the handsome slaves, brought them back with him to the monastery, cared, instructed and baptized them.
He was, finally, so taken with them that he burned to be off on a mission to convert their whole country.
The legend mentioned that he asked Pope Benedict to allow him to set out for a mission to England, but the pope was prevented by the crowd shouting in the chorus. "You have offended Peter, you have destroyed Rome, you have sent Gregory away" !!

The above legend was common among the English.
The real historical details are unknown.
There might be a rumour in Rome that the pagan Anglo-Saxon were ready to embrace the Faith.
The first plan might be that Gregory took some English captive boys, instructed and baptized them. Some might be ordained and sent later to England. He later used this method in the Gaul as we can deduce from his letter to Presbyter Candidus whom he sent to administer the Roman properties in the Gaul.

BOOK VI EPISTLE VII. TO CANDIDUS, PRESBYTER.Gregory to Candidus, Presbyter, going to the patrimony of Gaul. Now that thou art proceeding, with the help of our Lord God Jesus Christ, to the government of the patrimony that is in Gaul, we desire thy Love to procure with the money thou mayest receive clothing for the poor, or English boys of about seventeen or eighteen years of age, who may profit by being given to God in monasteries, that so the money of Gaul, which cannot be spent in our country, may he expended profitably in its own locality. Further, if you should succeed in getting anything from the moneys accruing to revenue which are called ablatae, from this too we desire thee to procure clothing for the poor, or, as we have before said, boys who may profit in the service of Almighty God. But, since such as can be found there are pagans, I desire that a presbyter be sent hither with them to provide against the case of any sickness occurring on the way, that he may baptize those whom he sees to be about to die. Wherefore let your Love so proceed as to lose no time in accomplishing these things diligently.

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This site is constructed and maintained by Ghazwan Butrous. Last Update: 23 May 1997