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History and heritage
The Cathedral's history goes back to 597AD when St Augustine, sent by Pope Gregory the Great as a missionary, established his seat (or 'Cathedra') in Canterbury. In 1170 Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in the Cathedral and ever since, the Cathedral has attracted thousands of pilgrims, as told famously in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
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From Dawn to Dusk |
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View a film of the Cathedral produced using time lapse photography, showing the cathedral as time changes throughout the day.
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The Book of Common Prayer is 350 years old! Come and hear the Rev Dr Judith Maltby at the annual Archives and Library Lecture on 15th May.
Find out more about the history of this magnificent building. Including stories of Thomas Becket and the first Archbishop of Canterbury, 'Augustine'.
The Cathedral Library contains about 30,000 books and pamphlets printed before 1900 and 20,000 books and serials published in the 20th century...
Witness the sheer splendour of the stained glass of the Cathedral, justifiably recognised as one of its great treasures...