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Dates in July & August
Canterbury’s UNESCO Sites tour: Foundations of Faith
Discover more about the introduction of Roman Christianity to Britain on this unique fully-guided tour experience which takes you through the heartland of historic Canterbury.
Visit St Martin’s church, the oldest church in the English-speaking world, explore the remains of St Augustine’s Abbey, resting place of St Augustine and the first Archbishops of Canterbury, and experience the beauty of Canterbury Cathedral, Mother Church of the Church of England. Together, these three historic places form Canterbury’s UNESCO World Heritage Site which gained UNESCO listing in 1988 – a must-visit destination.
The day will include a guided tour at every site and sandwich lunch in the picturesque gardens overlooking Canterbury Cathedral.
Dates:
- Friday 11 July
- Tuesday 29 July
- Friday 1 August
- Thursday 14 August
£59.95 per person
A guided tour at each stop offers a fascinating insight into the royals, clergy and ordinary people involved in the story, and allows you to explore successive architectural responses to Canterbury’s developing role as focus of the Church in England.
Chart the development of the architecture of the city, from the adaptation of existing Roman buildings to new Christian uses; the development of innovative Anglo-Saxon brick and stone churches through to the evolving grandeur of Romanesque and Gothic styles.
Outstanding Universal Value
- Unesco World Heritage Convention listing
These sites are also important because, alongside Christianity and early Benedictine monasticism, Augustine’s mission also established new traditions of literacy, education and writing; the development of written laws; the alliance of King and Church, the introduction of brick and stone building and even coinage and minting, which can be explored on this tour.
Starting with the arrival on Kentish shores of the Frankish, Christian Princess Bertha to marry the pagan King Ethelbert of Kent in 580 AD your tour then takes you through the arrival of St Augustine into Canterbury in 597 on a mission to convert the pagan inhabitants and later undertake the creation of the Abbey that now bears his name.
We uncover the hidden history of St Martin’s Church, England’s oldest parish church, used by Queen Bertha who with her pagan husband King Ethelbert, welcomed St Augustine to Kent. Centuries later the influence of the Benedictine abbey of St Augustine was decisive throughout the middle ages in England and the influence of this monastic centre, and its scriptorium, extended far beyond the boundaries of Kent.
You will also discover how Canterbury Cathedral evolved from its early beginnings to present- day status as mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion, having witnessed some of the major events in British history along the way.
Your Itinerary
- Your tour starts at St Martin’s Church, used by Queen Bertha and dedicated to St Martin of Tours, the 4th century hero saint of the Frankish peoples. You will be introduced to the history of the church and able to see the doorway used by Queen Bertha herself.
- Following a short guided walk to St Augustine’s Abbey and a little time free to purchase refreshments or visit the Abbey’s Museum and shop, you can enjoy a 90 minute guided tour of the monastic ruins of the Abbey. Originally created as a burial place for the Anglo-Saxon kings and queens of Kent, St Augustine’s was an important monastery and burial site of the early archbishops. Queen Bertha was thought to have been buried in SS Peter and Paul, and in 640 her son King Eadbald and his wife Queen Emma were buried to the eastern end (called St Mary's) as was their son, King Erconbert and his wife.
- You will then be guided to Lady Wootton’s Green where you can admire the modern-day statues celebrating Ethelbert and Bertha and you will be led past the remains of Queen Bertha’s Queningate and into the Cathedral Precincts.
- A buffet sandwich lunch and refreshments are provided for you in the picturesque Campanile Gardens which offer wonderful views of the Cathedral (with indoor provisions if wet).
- After lunch you will enjoy a 90 minute guided tour of Canterbury Cathedral itself. Described as ‘England in Stone’ as its history is so entwined with England’s story, Saint Augustine built his Cathedral here on land gifted to him by King Ethelbert.
- Your tour ends with the opportunity to ask questions of your guide, and a chance to discuss your day’s discoveries with your fellow travellers.
- The tour end with the chance to explore the stunning Cathedral Precincts, gardens, exhibitions and visit the Cathedral shop. You might like to stay and attend Choral Evensong which is celebrated at the Cathedral at 17:30 each evening.
Looking to bring a group?
Groups of 10 people or more can request a private Unesco tour just for their group which can be arranged on a date to suit them.
To ask about prices and arrange your tour please contact [email protected]
Considerations
Your day will start at St Martin’s Church which is found on the outskirts of Canterbury. Please factor in additional time to make your way to St Martin’s if you are travelling by train or planning to park in the city centre. There are no toilet facilities at St Martin’s, but facilities will be available at St Augustine’s and at Canterbury Cathedral.
Your day will last over 5 hours, which is mostly spent standing or walking, with almost a mile covered by walking between sites. There will be opportunities to sit down, but a good general level of fitness is required to enjoy this tour.
There will be some outdoor elements at all the sites we visit, and when walking between them and the tour will go ahead in rain or poor weather. Appropriate clothing and footwear is advised.
Due to the ancient nature of the three sites you are visiting, please be aware that some areas of the Cathedral, parts of the St Augustine site, and large parts of St Martin’s are regrettably inaccessible to wheelchairs and prams.
Lunch with tea or coffee is provided at Canterbury Cathedral. Please advise us of any dietary requirements.
Once you have booked a place on the tour we will contact you with the full route to be taken on the day and any additional information you might need. If you have any questions or would like to know more about the tour please contact us.
For more information, email [email protected]
ABOUT
St Martin's Church
directly and tangibly associated with the history of the introduction of Christianity to the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms
- Unesco World Heritage Convention listing
The oldest church in the English-speaking world, St Martin’s is still a regular place of Christian worship as it has been continuously for over 1,400 years.
It was here that Queen Bertha prayed in the 6th century, and here that St Augustine based his mission from 597AD until King Ethelbert granted him the land for the Abbey. Augustine enlarged the church, in line with the growing numbers of missionaries and converts visiting St Martin’s.
The church is a wonderful mixture of architectural features that reach back through the centuries. Areas of St Martin’s can be traced to Roman times, with re-used Roman bricks and complete sections of walls made from Roman tiles. At the core of the church the brick remains of a Roman structure were integrated into the building. Parts of the church are Saxon and can be dated to the 7th or 8th centuries, while other parts of the building are Norman and medieval, with the tower built in the 14th century. Victorian stained-glass windows and other features are also present as is a newly installed organ dating back to the late 18th century.
ABOUT
St Augustine's Abbey
The influence of the Benedictine abbey of St Augustine was decisive throughout the Middle Ages in England
- Unesco World Heritage Convention listing
St Augustine’s Abbey was one of the most important monasteries in medieval England. For almost 1,000 years it was a centre of learning and spirituality.
The abbey was founded in 598, after St Augustine arrived in Kent on a mission to convert the pagan Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. A monk named Peter was appointed as the first abbot, and soon afterwards was sent with Laurence the priest to Rome on a mission to Pope Gregory. He brought back, as a present from the pope, several books, vestments, vessels of gold and silver, and relics. Within 100 years, the work begun by Augustine had converted the whole of England, and the abbey that bore his name was at the heart of English Christianity. In 613 Archbishop Laurence consecrated the existing church, dedicated to St Pancras. In 978 the church was re-dedicated by Dunstan in honour of Sts Peter and Paul and St Augustine.
St Augustine’s developed over the centuries into a great Romanesque abbey, one of the grandest and most influential in Europe. However, this power and prominence was not to last. The Suppression of the Monasteries under Henry VIII saw much of the once great abbey destroyed.
In later years, St Augustine’s became the site of a royal palace, a poorhouse, a gaol and a school.
ABOUT
Canterbury Cathedral
a unique artistic creation
- Unesco World Heritage Convention listing
Seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Mother Church of the Church of England, Canterbury Cathedral sits on the site which was given to St Augustine by King Ethelbert to use for his ‘Cathedra’ or ‘seat. The present-day Cathedral dates from around 1070 onwards and is a marvel of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. From the honey-toned and intricately-carved exterior through to an awe-inspiring interior of high vaulted ceilings and stunning stained glass windows, Canterbury Cathedral will inspire and delight any visitor.
Canterbury Cathedral, especially the east sections, is a unique artistic creation. The beauty of its architecture is enhanced by a set of exceptional early stained glass windows, dating from the 12th century, which constitute the richest collection in the United Kingdom. In 2021, four window panes were dated to be among the earliest stained glass windows in the world.
Canterbury Cathedral was also witness to the wealth and power of the Norman church. This historic church was once the site of medieval pilgrimage following the murder of St Thomas Becket in 1170 and is the final resting place of King Henry IV and Edward of Woodstock, the Black Prince, whose magnificent tombs can be found within. An order of Benedictine monks lived and worshipped within the Precincts throughout the middle ages. Remains of their domestic buildings can be found around the site and traces of their lives can even be found on the Cathedral walls.
King Ethelbert and Queen Bertha’s story is celebrated by statuary around the walls and in the beautiful stained glass windows of the Cathedral, which you will discover on your guided tour.
Please join us for an informative and entertaining day visiting these three very special UNESCO places as you journey with like-minded travellers.
For more information, email [email protected]
Learn more about Canterbury's Unesco listing on the Unesco World Heritage Convention Listing
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