St Hadrian of Canterbury (otherwise known as St Hadrian the African), was born in a Greek speaking part of Cyrenaica in Libya around AD 635. Arriving in Naples as a refugee from the Arab invasions of the 7th century, he rose to become an Abbot first at Nisida and then of St. Augustine’s Abbey at Canterbury.

In AD 668, St Hadrian declined appointment by Pope Vitalian as Archbishop to the vacant See of Canterbury. St Hadrian recommended his good friend St. Theodorus (Theodore) of Tarsus to become the Archbishop; and went on to serve as St Theodore as an assistant and adviser. As Abbot of the leading Seminary in England at that time, St Hadrian also became a mentor to many principal churchmen. He died on 9th January AD 710 at Canterbury. His feast continues on that day.