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England DVD (2 shows) $19.95 buy now
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Canterbury Cathedral
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Canterbury has been home to the Head of
the Church of England (the Archbishop
of Canterbury) for more than five centuries but its
history stretches back a lot further.
History of Canterbury
as a pilgrimage site
The first Archbishop of Canterbury was St. Augustine who arrived
as a missionary to England in the sixth century. However,
it was after 1170 that the Cathedral became a place of pilgrimage.
Thomas Becket, Archbishop during the reign
of Henry the Second, was murdered in the
cathedral by four knights after the King proclaimed: 'Who
will rid me of this low born priest?" Since then, thousand
of worshippers have flocked to this small historic town to
pay homage. Chaucer's famed poem The
Canterbury Tales, written in the fourteenth century,
tells of the importance of these journeys to ordinary people.
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Visiting Canterbury
Cathedral
The cathedral itself is a beautiful building which is admired
around the world for its architecture as well as its religious
significance. The crypt is the only remaining Norman structure
in the building while the majority of the cathedral has a
French gothic style from its re-construction five hundred
years ago. The ancient stained glass of the cathedral is a
great example of Medieval art. The windows depict scenes from
the Bible and important moments in the lives of saints.
Canterbury cathedral is still home to the archbishop today
and plays an important role in the Church of England. Residential
courses on Christian faith are held for people from around
the world in the specially built learning centre. Life still
focuses on daily prayer with morning and evening worships
that are open to the public. A large team of Welcomers, Guides,
Cathedral Assistants, and Chaplains are there to give all
visitors a warm welcome.
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Getting to Canterbury
Canterbury Cathedral lies at the centre of the city which
has good rail and coach links from London. It is open year
round although access is limited at the times of services.
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By Emma Jones
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