Description
Canterbury Cathedral - Christ Church - reflects the changing architectural styles of five centuries.

When the earlier Anglo Saxon episcopal church burned down in 1067, the first Norman archbishop, Lanfranc (1070-77), built a replacement modeled on the Abbey of St Etienne in his home town of Caen. Lanfranc's cathedral quickly proved too small and St Anselm (Archbishop from 1093-1109) embarked upon the enlargement of the choir. This work continued under Priors Ernulf and Conrad, the new church being finally consecrated in 1130.

Less than 50 years later, in 1174, it too was severely damaged by fire, rebuilding commencing in the hands of the French master mason Guillaume de Sens. His soaring three bay arrangement with pointed arches marked the introduction from France into England of the Early Gothic style; his double transept moreover became a distinctive feature of the English Gothic cathedral. When in 1178 an accident made it impossible for the French William to continue, William the Englishman took over the reins, completing the choir - very much as seen today - in 1184.

At the end of the 14th century the Norman nave was pulled down, being rebuilt (1405) by the royal architect Henry Yevele in the High Gothic style.

Replacement of the west transepts followed, completed in 1468, during which time, in 1434, the west facade also acquired its southwest tower (the old northwest tower, built by Lanfranc, was replaced by a copy of the southwest tower in 1832).

Finally, in 1502, the tall, Late Gothic central tower was erected over the crossing, crowning the unusually proportioned cathedral with its extended choir.

The precincts are normally entered through Christ Church Gate, a Perpendicular gatehouse (1517) with a Baroque oak doorway (ca. 1660).

To appreciate the overall dimensions of the cathedral it is best to begin by walking the whole length of the building, its scale being easily lost sight of once inside the labyrinthine interior. At the same time the various different architectural phases and peculiarities of style can most readily be identified, from the Romanesque (the Norman apses and groined arches, the 12th century staircase tower of the southeast transept) to the Late Gothic (the nave with its characteristic tracery and buttresses, and the tall central tower).
Attractions within Canterbury Cathedral

Ambulatory

Continue up the steps into the ambulatory. Here sections of the Norman walls still survive and much of the glass in the windows is medieval in origin. A faded fresco, relic of the colorful murals
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Archbishops' tombs

Between the piers of the south ambulatory of Trinity Chapel is the tomb of Cardinal Odet de Coligny, Huguenot Archbishop of Toulouse who was reputedly poisoned by a Catholic servant during a visit
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Bell Harry

On the way to the entrance to the crypt (northwest transept), pause at the crossing to admire the elaborate early 16th century fan vaulting beneath Bell Harry, Canterbury Cathedral's magnificent central tower.

Chapter House

The early 15th century Chapter House, with its beautiful barrel vaulting of Irish bog oak, was the original setting for T. S. Eliot's "Murder in the Cathedral" when first performed in 1935.

Corona

The Corona itself ("Becket's Crown"), with its early 13th century biblical window, once housed a reliquary containing the severed fragment of the saint's skull. On the left inside the chapel is the
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Martyrdom of Thomas Becket

The northwest transept to the left of the choir screen is the site of The Martyrdom, scene of Thomas Becket's murder on December 29th 1170; also of the Altar of the Sword's Point (the blade of the
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St Anselm's Chapel

Steps worn by pilgrims' knees lead down into the south choir aisle where, on the left, stands St Anselm's Chapel, dedicated to Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109), Archbishop from 1094 until his death
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St Michael's Chapel

In the southwest transept of Canterbury Cathedral the lovely south window has late 12th century stained glass which originally graced the choir. St Michael's Chapel adjoining has very fine tombs (1
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Stained Glass Windows

The walls of the choir on both sides of the Corona (the circular chapel at the far east end) are embellished with superb late 12th and 13th century stained glass windows. Known as the Miracle
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Tomb of the Black Prince

In Trinity Chapel itself, near to where Becket's shrine once stood, is the tomb of Edward, the Black Prince, eldest son of Edward III and a true knight, famous for his courageous pursuit of the
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Tombs

Opposite the opening of the northeast transept - the triforium of which is formed by a Norman clerestory (pre 1174) - stands the magnificent tomb of Archbishop Henry Chichele, founder of All Souls
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Trinity Chapel

Near St Andrew's Chapel are steps leading, on the right, to Trinity Chapel where, from 1220 until its destruction in 1538, stood St Thomas Becket's golden shrine. Once or twice a day the heavy lid
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Choir Screen

The line of pillars on the north side of the nave leads past the font (1639, restored) and pulpit (1898) towards the choir screen (1411-30), its magnificent stone work decorated with angels
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Cloister

The spacious cloister, a good example of the Perpendicular style (1397-1411), has elaborate vaulting, the more than 800 bosses being brightly painted with faces and coats of arms.

Crypt

The large Norman crypt (built about 1100, enlarged after 1174) is the oldest part of the cathedral. In addition to traces of Romanesque wall paintings (ca. 1130) note, in St Gabriel's Chapel in
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Entrance

Entering Canterbury Cathedral via the southwest porch (restored in 1862), the tall, light nave and aisles are revealed, with their cluster pillars, Gothic tracery windows and ornate ribbed vaulting
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Address
Canterbury Cathedral
Christ Church Gate
Canterbury CT1 2EE
United Kingdom
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:009:009:009:009:009:0012:30
Closed17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:30
Always closed on:
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Cost
Adult2.50
All values are in local currency.
Tips
Closed during services.
Guides
Guided tour available as optional extra.
Attractions Near Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury