 Roman Britain had become fully Christianized , but the Anglo @-@ Saxons retained their native faith . In 597 Augustine was sent by Pope Gregory I to England to convert them to Christianity . Augustine landed in eastern Kent , and soon managed to convert Æthelberht , who gave Augustine land in Canterbury . Two other rulers , Sæberht , king of Essex , and Rædwald , king of East Anglia , were converted through Æthelberht 's influence . 
