Wednesday, June 29, 2022
We hopped on a train from the St. Pancras station in London and headed to Canterbury!
Our first glimpse of the Cathedral (which is undergoing renovations at the moment so parts of it are covered in scaffolding, but much of it is uncovered as well and can be seen in all its glory.)
Dave in front of the entrance..... let's go inside!
One of the most significant and notorious events to ever take place here was the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170. The murder came after a long dispute between the Archbishop and King Henry II which ended with the King ordering four of his knights to set off for Canterbury and kill the Archbishop. Soon after this event, miracles were said to take place and this Cathedral became one of Europe's most significant pilgrimage sights.
We loved exploring the cloister.
The Cathedral consists of the Nave, Cloister, Chapter House, site of Martyrdom, Bell Harry Tower, Quire, Trinity Chapel and the Crypt. We explored all of it.
And then explored outside which was equally as beautiful and historic.
Tip: If you ever go to Canterbury Cathedral, don't leave until you've walked around the town. It's charming in every way. Lots of windy old streets, fun shops, tasty restaurants, stone walkways, a little river with bridges and punting and more.
And definitely don't leave before you walk over to St. Martin's Church, the oldest church in the English-speaking world.
St. Martins Church is still in use. And it surrounded by a beautiful cemetery. While it may sound morbid, I love exploring and walking around old cemeteries. I love examining the tombstones, reading the names and dates of of their lives, wondering about them, thinking of the people who lived and died there.
And also make sure to stop by and visit St. Augustine's Abbey.
Cost: A R/T train ticket from London to/from Canterbury is ~$45/person. Admission into the Cathedral is 14 pounds/adult.
Verdict: While this may not necessarily need to be on everyone's list, I definitely think it's a must do for Catholics and others devoted to Christianity. It has been one of Christendom's chief places of pilgrimage ever since Becket's martyrdom. It is also the starting point of the famed Via Francigena, the ancient pilgrim trail. Even if you aren't religious, if you are anywhere in the United Kingdom, this is worth going out of your way to see and visit.
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