Canterbury cathedral where is it located

Due to frequent tensions with the king, the archbishop was killed in the cathedral by the four knights of Henry II. He was canonised in The assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket made the cathedral one of the top pilgrimage destinations in Europe. The French architect William of Sens took care of its reconstruction, having decided to entirely rebuild the building in the Gothic style.

The pilgrimages to the tomb of Becket, which was regarded as a place of healing, brought great prosperity to the city and its cathedral for centuries. In fact, the income from pilgrims largely paid for the subsequent rebuilding of the cathedral and its associated buildings. The incredibly famous Canterbury Tales, written in the late 14th century by Geoffrey Chaucer, narrates the journey of a group of pilgrims from London to the sanctuary of Thomas Becket.

While on his deathbed in , he asked to be buried in the crypt. The cathedral was seriously damaged by the Dover Straits earthquake. The cloisters were repaired and remodelled. The Pulpitum Screen was also constructed. The importance of the cathedral was reduced due to the abolition of religious orders and the cult of saints. The monastery was dissolved by royal command, and the king removed the prior and the monks. The abbey of St Augustine was closed.

The New Foundation of Dean and Chapter was established. Since the order of bishops was retained following England's break from the Roman Catholic Church, the cathedral remained as the seat of the bishop and has become the seat of the spiritual head of the Church of England. Thomas Cranmer became the first Protestant archbishop of Canterbury; Reginald Pole was the last Roman Catholic archbishop of Canterbury who held the office during the Counter-Reformation.

Pilgrims and visitors have made their way to Canterbury Cathedral since the Middle Ages. We continue the ancient tradition of Benedictine hospitality, warmly inviting you to share with us the beauty of one of the great holy places of Christendom. Reviews 4. Discover hundreds of unique products and special gifts in-store and online with our Cathedral Shop. All profits go towards the upkeep of Canterbury Cathedral.

The Cathedral does not typically receive funding from the Government or Church of England. We rely on supporters like you to keep going. It is said that Gregory had been struck by the beauty of Angle slaves he saw for sale in the city market and despatched Augustine and some monks to convert them to Christianity.

This building is the oldest church in England still in use. Until the 10th century, the Cathedral community lived as the household of the Archbishop. During the 10th century, it became a formal community of Benedictine monks, which continued until the monastery was dissolved by King Henry VIII in There have been many additions to the building over the last nine hundred years, but parts of the Quire and some of the windows and their stained glass date from the 12th century.

When, after a long lasting dispute, King Henry II is said to have exclaimed 'Who will rid me of this turbulent priest? To check timings, or to book, use the Southeastern booking widget below. The Cathedral is a short walk into the city from either station. Look out for the Southeastern 2-for-1 offers to Kent attractions, including entry to the Cathedral. For visitors travelling by Eurostar to Ashford, there is a frequent train service running between Ashford International and Canterbury West.

Alternatively, you could arrive in style on the Belmond British Pullman luxury train which offers regular day trips from London.