Canterbury Cathedral, Kent

Canterbury was where Christianity all started in England and is thus the home of the Archbishop. In AD 597, the Pope sent St. Augustine over to Britain to convert the Saxons. King Ethelbert of Kent greeted him with open arms and together they founded the first Saxon Cathedral of Christ Church. This building was found beneath the present one during recent excavations. The current cathedral is a great mixture of medieval architectural styles. Internally, the east end particularly striking. Canterbury Cathedral is stuffed full of medieval stained glass in really huge windows. Much of it shows miracles being performed at the shrine of St. Thomas A'Becket, the most popular pilgrimage centre in England. You can still see the spot where King Henry II had his head split open in the north-west transept. The site of his shrine is marked by a single candle. King Henry IV and the Black prince are buried nearby. Tombs of Archbishops are two a penny. Archbishop Chichele's, with his emaciated cadaver, is the best.

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