{"id":2758,"date":"2024-07-10T16:17:40","date_gmt":"2024-07-10T15:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukc4h.cottage-search.com\/blog\/?p=2758"},"modified":"2025-09-10T10:23:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T09:23:12","slug":"canterbury-englands-oldest-cathedral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ukcaravans4hire.com\/blog\/canterbury-englands-oldest-cathedral\/","title":{"rendered":"Canterbury Cathedral: England’s Oldest Cathedral"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Canterbury Cathedral: England in Stone<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Interior<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Canterbury Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in England and one of the UK\u2019s most visited tourist attractions. One look at its fascinating and often bloody history, it\u2019s not hard to see why it has such an enduring appeal\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That History is brought alive through our country\u2019s beautiful collection of castles, which offer a unique insight into the story of our national heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re interested in British history, you must visit Canterbury Cathedral, which has played an integral role in England\u2019s past. Often referred to as \u2018England in stone,\u2019 the cathedral has been central to many momentous events throughout this country\u2019s long and exciting history!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

About Canterbury Cathedral<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"CANTERBURY,<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A look at its history…<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Founded in 597 AD by St Augustine<\/a><\/strong>, who was sent to England as a Christian missionary by Pope Gregory the Great, Canterbury Cathedral soon became the centre of the Christian community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It became a revered place of worship and a popular pilgrimage destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was damaged by Danish raids in 1011 and nearly destroyed by fire in 1067 before Norman Archbishop Lanfranc began rebuilding it in 1070.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"View<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Canterbury Tales<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most famous works of medieval literature, Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, written between 1378 and 1400, was based on a pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some well-known historical figures are buried at Canterbury, including King Henry IV, who was laid to rest in 1413. In 1535, the head of Catholic martyr Sir Thomas More was buried at the Church of St Dunran\u2019s Canterbury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cathedral is a mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, making it of huge interest to those fascinated by the history and design of significant buildings. The site includes St Martin\u2019s Church, the ruins of St Augustine\u2019s Abbey, and the cathedral itself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Attacks & Repairs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The cathedral has been the target of many attacks over the years. It was ransacked in 1642 by Puritans in the Civil War but later restored in 1660 when the Church of England was reestablished. Repairs began, and they were completed in 1704.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Canterbury,<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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It was severely damaged during German air raids in the Second World War, with rebuilding efforts taking many years to come to fruition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The restoration and preservation of Canterbury Cathedral is constant and ongoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bringing its history bang up to date, the cathedral is currently trying to raise \u00a36m funding for the West Front Project to conserve and repair its iconic West Front, take on apprentice stonemasons, and improve disabled access.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Did you know?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n