Agilbert facts for kids

Agilbert was an important religious leader who lived a long time ago, around the years 650 to 680. He was a bishop in two different places: first in the West Saxon kingdom in what is now England, and later in Paris, which is in modern-day France. People remember him as a saint in the Catholic Church. His special day, called a feast day, is celebrated on October 11th.

Who Was Agilbert?

Agilbert was born sometime between 610 and 620. We don't know exactly where he was born. His father, Betto, was a noble from a region called Neustria (part of what is now France). Agilbert was related to other important families of his time. His name, Agilbert, is similar to the English name Æthelberht. This might suggest he had some connection to the royal family of Kingdom of Kent.

Becoming a Bishop

Agilbert became a bishop in Francia (modern-day France) before he traveled to Britain. He arrived in the West Saxon kingdom when King Cenwalh of Wessex was back in power. King Cenwalh had been forced out by Penda of Mercia. Agilbert became the new bishop for the West Saxons. He took over from Birinus, another saint who helped bring Christianity to Wessex.

Agilbert became the first Bishop of Dorchester, near Oxford. This was the main church for the West Saxons at the time. The old Saxon church building is gone now. Only the later Norman church, Dorchester Abbey, remains. A famous writer named Bede wrote that Agilbert had "spent a long time in Ireland" studying the Bible.

Language Challenges

According to Bede, Agilbert didn't speak Old English very well. King Cenwalh supposedly got "tired of his barbarous speech." This means the king found Agilbert's way of speaking difficult to understand. Because of this, the king decided to split Agilbert's bishopric (his area of religious control) into two parts. He gave half to another bishop named Wine. This disagreement might have caused Agilbert to leave his position.

The Synod of Whitby

After leaving Wessex, Agilbert traveled north to Northumbria. There, he helped to ordain (make someone a priest or bishop) a young man named Wilfrid. Agilbert was a key figure at an important meeting called the Synod of Whitby in 664. This meeting was held to decide how Christianity would be practiced in England. There were two main ways: the Roman way and the Irish way. Agilbert supported the Roman way. He had Wilfrid speak for him during the discussions.

The charter of Clotilde, dated March 10, 673. Agilbert signed this document, which is the last time we see his name in records with a specific year.

Later Life in Francia

Agilbert eventually returned to Francia. He helped Wilfrid become a bishop at Compiègne. Agilbert then became the Bishop of Paris between 666 and 668. He even hosted another important religious leader, Theodore of Tarsus, in Paris. King Cenwalh later invited Agilbert to come back to England to be the Bishop of Winchester. However, Agilbert sent his nephew, Leuthhere, in his place.

Agilbert died sometime after March 10, 673. On that date, he signed a document for a new monastery. He was buried at Jouarre Abbey in France. His sister, Theodechildis, was the abbess (head nun) there. You can still see Agilbert's beautiful carved stone coffin in the crypts (underground rooms) at Jouarre Abbey. His sister's coffin is there too.