The Significance of Canterbury

Canterbury is a city in Kent, in southeastern England. Being a coastal region and because of its proximity to the sea, Kent has often been the landing spot of invaders and visitors.

Canterbury was a prominent settlement for the Celts, the Romans and the Anglo Saxons. The name evolves from the Canti tribe of the Celts.  

The Roman town of Durovernum Cantiacorum was established on the site after the invasion of Claudius in 43 CE.

Christiantity reached England during the Roman days. St. Martin's Church established at Canterbury is now the oldest Christian church in the English speaking world. 

Kent is one of the Anglo Saxon Heptarchy kingdoms. 

In the late 6th century King Ethelbert I of Kent married a French princess Bertha, who was a Christian. This must have influenced him to support the mission of St. Augustine of Canterbury, who arrived in 597 and was given St. Martin’s, the queen’s parish church. After his consecration as bishop of the English, Augustine founded the Abbeys of SS. Peter and Paul (known after his death as St. Augustine’s Abbey), and established the Canterbury Cathedral, which was originally called Christ Church. Augustine becomes the first Archbishop of Canterbury.

Canterbury Cathedral witnessed a violent incident in 1170, when the men of King Henry II murdered Thomas Becket. Becket was buried in the crypt of the Cathedral, but later this place was destroyed during the time of Henry VIII, through the efforts of Thomas Cromwell, known as “the Hammer of the monks”.

Following the death, burial and canonization of Thomas Becket, Canterbury became a pilgrim spot. At least two works of literature are inspired by the Becket incident: Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” and T S Eliot’s “Murder in the Cathedral”.

Prepared by Jacob Eapen Kunnath

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