Abel of Reims

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Saint Abel (died 5 August 764) was abbot of Lobbes and Bishop of Reims.

Of Scottish origins, Abel travelled with other Christian teachers like Boniface and Willibrord to Franconia. He appears to have first operated in the abbey of Lobbes. On 3 March 744 he became bishop of Reims at the Synod of Soissons.

Despite support from king Carloman, Abel was not in the favour of Pope Zachary. The pope refused to hand the pallium to Abel and gave it to archbishop Hartbert of Sens instead. Thus Abel could not stand his ground and retired (probably in 748) to Lobbes Abbey, where he continued to spread the word until his death in 764.