Canterbury
Pilgrims and Murder
Canterbury is known throughout the world not only as the cradle of Christianity in Saxon England but also as a place of pilgrimage and the place where Thomas a Becket met his death.
Canterbury has been an important place since before Roman times and stands on a site that was occupied 350 years before the romans arrived being founded on a ford over the River Stour.
Canterbury takes its name from the word Cantawarabyrig that meant the stronghold of the people of Kent. The vulnerability of this city was aided by the River and many invaders came that way including the Romans, followed by Saxons, Danes, Vikings and last but not least the Normans.
Perhaps the most important invader was Augustine who was sent by the pope to found the Church of England arriving in 597.
Canterbury is the most visited of the cathedral cities of England the cathedral itself is world Heritage listed and said to be one of Europe’s finest buildings.
It is the most gruesome aspect of Canterbury namely the murder of Thomas a Becket that gives the city its main attraction. Thousands flock every year on pilgrimage to visit the scene of the great man’s death.
Geoffrey Chaucer the author of Canterbury Tales has also helped to boost the popularity of this lovely city with his tales of pilgrims travelling the long road from London to Canterbury. Chaucer’s tales of the pilgrims is a tale that encompasses all the failings of man such as adultery debauchery crime etc., this monumental work is one of the most outstanding in English literature.
These days’ people visit the city not only to visit the cathedral and the shrine to St Thomas but also some of the other attractions. Visitors can take a walk through the charming cobbled streets and explore the city walls as well as a museum of Canterbury.
St Martin’s church and the ruins of Augustine Abbey are also worth a visit. The old market house is a beautiful timbered building and worth seeing.
The city besides being a place of pilgrimage is a vibrant place full of bars and restaurants and home to a thriving student population, this along with the thousands of visitors each year make it a busy place. Canterbury also makes a good base for visiting other attractions in the area there are many beautiful little villages as well as the coastal towns such as Margate, Ramsgate and Whitstable.
For those who do not study history the tale of Becket and King Henry II is briefly one of two friends falling out. Henry made his friend Becket Archbishop believing that he would force the religious establishment of the day to give into the King.
However, he did not bank on how seriously Becket would take his duties and in the end, Becket clashed with nearly everything the king said. This culminated in the now famous words who will rid me of this troublesome priest to be uttered by the King in the presence of some of his knights, the rest is history.
Activities in Canterbury
Visit abcbritain's profile on Pinterest.