Blesseds Agnellus and Albert followed St. Francis of Assisi while he preached in Pisa in 1211. These natives of Pisa were among the men who followed the inspiration of St. Francis and formed part of his first fraternity.

Both men were chosen by Francis for the new provinces which began to emerge after 1217. Agnellus served as a major figure in the development of the Franciscan fraternity in France. Later Francis appointed him as the leader of the band of nine friars who were sent to England.

They landed at Dover on 10 September 1224. They were penniless and had no possessions. Their primary intention was to bear witness to the liberating truth of the Gospel. They made their way to Canterbury where they were received by the monks of the Cathedral priory.

Later, the group of friars advanced to London, Oxford and Northampton. The arrival of reinforcements from other parts of Europe and recruits from England enabled the fraternity to expand quickly throughout the main centres of England.

Agnellus died at Oxford in March 1236 and miracles occurred at his tomb. He was succeeded by Albert of Pisa. The fraternity continued to grow under his leadership, which was marked by a high level of evangelical poverty among the friars. New friaries were opened and the friars were renowned for their skillful and imaginative presentation of the Gospel. In 1239 Albert was the first priest to be elected as the minister General of the fraternity. He died the following year.

Both men are revered in England where they laid a strong foundation for the rise and development of the fraternity, which exercised a profound exercise on the life of the nation and the Church.