On 4th December 1154, Nicholas Breakspear was elected pope. he took the name Adrian IV. He died in 1159 but for five year’s there was an English pope. He is the only English pope to have ever been elected. Apparently he chose the name Adrian because he wished to honour Adrian I who supported St Alban’s Abbey, which was near the place of his birth.

It was Adrian IV who granted Henry II the papal bull known as the Laudabiliter which granted the king permission to invade Ireland to reform the Church there.