At first Eadbald renounced his baptism, rejected Christianity, and married his father's widow. He was later converted by Laurence of Canterbury, recalled Mellitus and Justus, and built a church at Canterbury.
He also arranged a marriage between his sister Æthelberg and Edwin of Northumbria, later taking her and Paulinus back when Edwin died in 633.
He married the Frankish princess Emma, daughter of Theudebert II of Austrasia, possibly in 624, and they had a son Earconbert, who succeeded Eadbald.