Canterbury Cathedral St Martin’S NO
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Canterbury Canterbury and its History Map of the sites WORLD HERITAGE St Augustine, sent by Pope Gregory the Each site is within 5-10 minutes walking distance One of the great holy places of Christendom Great, arrived as a missionary to England in of each other and the city centre, and 10-20 597AD and established his seat (‘cathedra’) in minutes walking distance from bus and train Canterbury, becoming the first Archbishop of stations. BU Canterbury. TT ER MA RKE T Augustine was given a church (St Martin’s) by B UR Canterbury GA Cathedral King Ethelbert. His wife, Queen Bertha, was TE a French princess and already a Christian. St Martin’s Church is the building in which she and B U R GA subsequently Augustine and his followers first T E worshipped. C H UR C H S The ruins of St Augustine’s Abbey include the T remains of the monastery where Augustine L and his followers lived and worshipped. It was ONGPORT not only the principal mission centre for the St Augustine’s conversion of the English people to Christianity, Abbey St Martin’s Church St Augustine’s Abbey but a centre of learning and culture, and the L burial place of Kentish kings and several ONGPORT archbishops of Canterbury, including St Augustine himself. N O L R ONGP T H Canterbury is often described as the cradle H OL OR M ES T of Christianity, as St Martin’s Church, St RD Augustine’s Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral St Martin’s NO R T H HO L Church M ES are directly and tangibly associated with the NTH RD HMS RD history of the re-introduction of Christianity in England. Canterbury Cathedral St Martin’s Church St Augustine’s Abbey Canterbury Cathedral Situated just outside the city centre, St Martin’s The abbey was one of the most significant Canterbury Cathedral is the Mother Church of was Queen Bertha’s chapel before Augustine’s religious sites in medieval England; a thriving the worldwide Anglican Communion and seat of arrival. It is the oldest parish church in continuous centre of Benedictine monasticism for almost the Archbishop of Canterbury. use in the English-speaking world. 1000 years. The dissolution of the monasteries in 1538 resulted in the ruined remains we see The Cathedral attracts thousands of pilgrims The current chancel encapsulates the remains today. every year - most famously to visit the shrine of the original Roman brick- built church. Here, of Thomas Becket who was murdered in the Augustine, Ethelbert and Bertha prayed as the Explore the evocative ruins with the audio tour. Cathedral in 1170. Cathedral and Abbey projects were planned. Inside try the award-winning Virtual Reality An Anglo Saxon Nave and a medieval tower experience to see the 1500s abbey. The Cathedral houses one of the most complete the building. important collections of early medieval stained The abbey’s extensive archaeological collection glass windows in the country, depicting bible The churchyard contains several notable graves is also displayed inside, including some of the stories, royal connections and the miracles and there’s a fine city view from the terrace. most important Saxon religious artefacts in the associated with the murder of Thomas Becket. country. St Martin’s Church is free to visit, but donations For opening times and entry charges, please are greatly appreciated. For opening times and prices visit visit the Cathedral website For up-to-date opening times, visit St Martin’s www.english-heritage.org.uk/staugustinesabbey www.canterbury-cathedral.org website www.martinpaul.org St Martin’s Church, St Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury Cathedral, CT1 2EH North Holmes Road, CT1 1PW Longport, CT1 1PF [email protected] 01227 767345 01227 762862.