Canterbury Cathedral

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About Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the mother church of the Anglican Communion. It was founded by Augustine in 597, and the present building combines almost a thousand years of construction: the Norman crypt from the 11th century, the largest in England; the late 12th-century choir, rebuilt after a fire; and the late 14th-century Perpendicular Gothic nave, with slender columns and high vaults. The central tower, Bell Harry, dates from the late 15th century.

In the northwest transept is the Martyrdom, the spot where Archbishop Thomas Becket was killed on 29 December 1170 by four knights. A sculpture of swords marks the spot. Becket was canonized in 1173, and the shrine with his tomb in the Trinity Chapel drew pilgrims for more than 350 years until it was destroyed by order of Henry VIII in 1538; a lit candle marks the place.

The cathedral houses 12th- and 13th-century stained glass depicting miracles attributed to Becket, among the oldest in England; the tomb of Edward, the Black Prince, with its bronze armour; and that of King Henry IV. The cloister and chapter house complete the visit. From the precinct, the Christ Church Gate, dating from 1517, opens onto the Buttermarket.

The ticket gives access to the cathedral precinct. On Sundays, tourist visiting is restricted because of services, and Evensong in the late afternoon can be attended without a ticket.