354 KIRKDALE CHURCH. 



who first sent the gospel to the Saxons; and from 

 its being: built in the days of Tosti, the erection of 

 it must have happened between the year 105(5 and 

 1065. For Tosti, the fourth son of Godwiu, Earl 

 of Kent, and brother to King Harold, was created 

 Earl of Northumberland, by Edward the Confessor, 

 in 1056: but Tosti, being: of an ambitious and tur- 

 bulent disposition, was expelled the kingdom in 

 1065, and was slain the year following' at Stamford- 

 bridge, near York, in his attempt to recover his for- 

 mer power. Dugdale, Baron, vol. 1. p. 313. 



The walls of the chancel are embossed with ele- 

 gant monuments, principally recording the deaths 

 and interments of various branches of the Ro- 



liberty to exercise ; and for that purpose was attended by 

 a venerable priest named Liudhard, who officiated con- 

 stantly in a church dedicated to St. Martin, built in. 

 the time of the Britons, and lying a little way without 

 the walls of Canterbury. The exemplary life of this 

 prelate, and the discourses he had with some of the prin- 

 cipal men of the kingdom, disposed many to embrace 

 Christianity, the progress of which was facilitated by the 

 pious and prudent conduct of the queen. Gregory the 

 great, to whom this church is dedicated, hearing of the 

 general disposition of the English to receive the Christian, 

 religion sent Augustine, with a number of devout monks, 

 from his monastery at Rome, to preach the gospel in 

 England ; who were supplied by Brunehaur, regent of 

 Austrasia and Burgundy, with a number of French cler- 

 gymen, who spake the English tongue ; so that about 

 forty missionaries, in all, landed in the Isle of Thanet. 

 Thither Ethelbert went to hear them preach in the open 

 air ; not desiring to entera house, perhaps that he might 

 not displease his heathen priests. These missionaries 

 preached constantly after, in the church of St. Martin. 

 Public opinion changed, heathenism began to dwindle^ 

 and Christianity to gain ground; 



