Bertha of Kent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bertha |
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| Queen consort of Kent | |
Bertha of Kent: Stained glass window in the Chapter house, Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, England
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| Born | c. 565 |
| Died | c. 601 |
| Spouse | Æthelberht of Kent |
| Issue | Eadbald of Kent Æthelburg of Kent Æðelwald |
| Dynasty | Merovingian |
| Father | Charibert I |
| Mother | Ingoberga |
Saint Bertha (born around 565, died in or after 601) was a queen of Kent. She played a very important part in bringing Christianity to Anglo-Saxon England. She is known as a saint because of her role in helping Christianity grow in England during that time.
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Life of Queen Bertha
Bertha was a princess from a powerful family called the Franks. Her father was King Charibert I, and her mother was Ingoberga. Her grandfather was King Chlothar I, and her great-grandparents were Clovis I and Saint Clotilde.
Bertha grew up near a city called Tours. When she married Æthelberht of Kent in 580 AD, he was not a Christian. He followed the old pagan religions. Bertha was allowed to continue practicing her Christian faith. She brought her own priest, Liudhard, with her to England.
St. Martin's Church and Bertha's Faith
A very old Roman church was fixed up for Bertha just outside the city of Canterbury. This church was named after Saint Martin of Tours. It was Queen Bertha's private chapel before Augustine arrived from Rome.
Today, the St Martin's Church is still on the same spot. It even has parts of the original Roman walls. UNESCO recognizes it as the oldest church in the English-speaking world where Christians have worshipped non-stop since 580 AD. St Martin's Church, along with Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine's Abbey, are part of Canterbury's UNESCO World Heritage site.
Bertha's Influence on Christianity
In 596, Pope Gregory the Great sent a group of missionaries, led by Augustine of Canterbury, to bring Christianity back to England. When they arrived in 597 AD, they were welcomed. This warm welcome was largely thanks to Queen Bertha's influence.
Because of her support and King Æthelberht's kindness, Christian churches and monasteries could be built. If not for them, these important places might have been built somewhere else. In 601, Pope Gregory wrote a letter to Bertha. He praised her strong faith and her knowledge.
Bertha's Family
Old English records show that Saint Bertha had two children: Eadbald of Kent and Æthelburg of Kent. Her name appears in the family trees of many old stories about the 'Kentish Royal Legend'.
The exact year she died is not fully known, but it was likely in or after 601.
Queen Bertha's Legacy in Canterbury
The city of Canterbury remembers Queen Bertha in many ways.
- A special path called the Bertha Trail has 14 bronze plaques set into the ground. It goes from the Buttermarket to St Martin's Church.
- In 2006, bronze statues of Bertha and King Æthelberht were put up on Lady Wootton's Green. This was part of a project to remember them.
- Inside St Martin's Church, there is a wooden statue of Bertha.
Images for kids
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St. Martin's Church. West side view.
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St. Martin's Church. Inside view.
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A wooden statue of St. Bertha inside St. Martin's church.
