Canterbury Cathedral

History

Canterbury Cathedral was founded in 597AD by the 1 st Archbishop of Canterbury, St. Augustine, who arrived on the Kent coast as a missionary to England from Rome.

Many national and ecclesiastical figures have been linked to the cathedral over the years, most notably Thomas Becket, who was murdered in the Cathedral on 29 December 1170. He was appointed by Henry II to bring the “church” under the control of the monarchy; however he did the exact opposite. Four knights, thinking they would ingratiate themselves to the King, came to Canterbury and killed Thomas in his own Cathedral.

Canterbury Cathedral has a perpendicular nave, central tower – the Bell Harry, St Augustine’s Chair, 12 th century Gothic quire, notable stained glass windows and a Romanesque crypt.

The present archbishop, the Most Revd Dr Rowan Williams, is the 104 th in the line of succession.

Together with St. Augustine’s Abbey and St. Martin’s Church, Canterbury Cathedral is a designated World Heritage Site.