Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church
Canterbury, England, England
18.07.2022
The Cathedral, Abbey of St. Augustine and St. Martin's Church in Canterbury is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the historic city of Canterbury in England. This site is a significant religious and cultural landmark, with a history dating back over a thousand years.
The Cathedral, also known as Canterbury Cathedral, is the mother church of the Anglican Communion and the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. It was founded in 597 AD by St. Augustine, who was sent by Pope Gregory the Great to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. The Cathedral is a stunning example of Gothic architecture, with its towering spires, intricate stone carvings, and beautiful stained glass windows.
Adjacent to the Cathedral is the Abbey of St. Augustine, which was founded in the 6th century by St. Augustine himself. This abbey was the first monastery in England and played a significant role in the spread of Christianity throughout the country. It was also the site of the murder of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1170. This event led to the abbey becoming a popular pilgrimage site for Christians.
The St. Martin's Church is located just outside the city walls of Canterbury and is the oldest church in England still in use. It was originally built in the 6th century by St. Augustine and has undergone several reconstructions over the years. This church is a significant example of Romanesque architecture and features a mix of Saxon and Norman styles.
Today, the Cathedral, Abbey of St. Augustine, and St. Martin's Church are not only important religious sites but also major tourist attractions. Visitors can explore the stunning architecture, learn about the rich history and religious significance of these buildings, and even attend services or concerts held in the Cathedral.
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Canterbury, in Kent, has been the seat of the spiritual head of the Church of England for nearly five centuries. Canterbury's other important monuments are the modest Church of St Martin, the oldest church in England; the ruins of the Abbey of St Augustine, a reminder of the saint's evangelizing role in the Heptarchy from 597; and Christ Church Cathedral, a breathtaking mixture of Romanesque and Perpendicular Gothic, where Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170.
Canterbury Cathedral is the cathedral of the archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Church of England and symbolic leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Located in Canterbury, Kent, it is one of the oldest Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site. Its formal title is the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ, Canterbury.
Founded in 597, the cathedral was completely rebuilt between 1070 and 1077. The east end was greatly enlarged at the beginning of the 12th century, and largely rebuilt in the Gothic style following a fire in 1174, with significant eastward extensions to accommodate the flow of pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas Becket, the archbishop who was murdered in the cathedral in 1170. The Norman nave and transepts survived until the late 14th century, when they were demolished to make way for the present structures.
Before the English Reformation, the cathedral was part of a Benedictine monastic community known as Christ Church, Canterbury, as well as being the seat of the archbishop.
