peter canterbury died abbot monastery peter paul canterbury later abbey companion mission kent sent peter rome convey news mission pope death traditionally dated evidence suggests present church council paris probably died date life presumed peter native italy like members mission mission dispatched pope gregory great native landed kent soon converted king kent gave land founded abbey later canterbury medieval chronicler records mission arrival england probably late peter fellow missionary sent gregory relay news successes kent request missionaries conveyed pope number inquiries proceed mission returned brought gregory replies peter abbot monastery founded canterbury originally dedicated saints peter paul later leader mission describes peter abbot word usually translated priest death peter drowned crossing english channel way place called near buried hastily nearby reports light illuminated grave night locals realised peter saint interred actual date death unknown feast day celebrated different days december january information clear mystery date death reported year months weeks thomas 15th century chronicler true year death information contradicted fact peter present convened possible died return peter considered saint feast day january cult confirmed life peter written 12th century exists manuscript form unreliable evidence peter object 15th century church town associated peter probably start cult
Peter of Canterbury