St. Bede tells of Pope Gregory I seeing a group of Angle children from Deira for sale as slaves in the Roman market. Gregory was reputedly struck by the appearance of the slaves and asked about their background. When told they were called Anglii (Angles), he replied with a Latin pun: "Bene, nam et angelicam habent faciem, et tales angelorum in caelis decet esse coheredes" (It is well, for they have an angelic face, and such people ought to be co-heirs of the angels in heaven). This encounter inspired the pope to launch Augustine's mission to bring Christianity to England.
Saint Augustine of Canterbury was born during the 6th century AD, probably in Rome and likely of noble parentage.
While Prior of the Benedictine monastery of St Andrew in Rome, he was chosen by Pope Gregory I to lead a mission to a largely pagan England.
Augustine and about 40 monks left in June 596, but returned to Rome having been warned of dangers awaiting them.
They set out again and landed in the spring of 597 on the Isle of Thanet, off the southeast coast of England, where they were well received by King Aethelberht (Ethelbert) I of Kent.
The king and many of his subjects were converted to Christianity and Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury.
His mission grew within the Kingdom of Kent, however his attempts to join with the Celtic churches in North Wals proved fruitless.
He died in Canterbury on May 26, in 604 or 605
He is not to be confused with Saint Augustine of Hippo
It is not known why his name was chosen for a Grammar School in southern Manchester.
The school motto, Angelorum Coheredes is taken from Gregory I's pun as above