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Canterbury Cathedral
If there is one consistent feature of our travels around the country it is that Dorothy usually forgets her passport and that the Cathedral is covered in scaffolding. At our 29th cathedral Dorothy had remembered her passport but the entrance to the Cathedral Precinct, Christ Church Gateway, and the Cathedral itself did not disappoint re the latter.
We began our visit to the mother church of the Anglican Community by first walking the town to appreciate the setting. Dorothy drove us to the “Park and Ride” and the dogs enjoyed their first bus trip. We walked around Canterbury getting tantalising glimpses of the cathedral through narrow alleys and then more spectacular views from the top of the Roman Walls. A community cafe provided us with an excellent lunch and takeaway supper whilst providing work for a range of people from Duke of Edinburgh participants to people easing back into work.
We walked past an old synagogue that has been converted into a music department for the local private school whose bowler hatted employee was keeping an eye on his charges by the river. Walking along the narrow streets reminded me of York although Canterbury seemed quieter, which was odd I thought.
We arrived at the Cathedral Entrance which was built to celebrate the marriage of Catherine of Aragon to Henry VII’s first son Prince Arthur who then died so was then to commemorate him. There are the carved pomegranates to represent Grenada and scallop shells to represent pilgrimage which we could see but the rest was covered up.
At the ticket office as we were about to pay, I explained that we were pilgrims and instantly we were informed that not only did we not have to pay but there was a Pilgrim Welcomer who would greet us.
Round the corner Torin greeted us effusively and took our photos for his Instagram account.
He wanted to see our Pilgrim passports as he wishes to improve the Canterbury Stamp. Canterbury is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a worshipping community. He showed us the statues of King Ethelbert and his wife Queen Bertha, a Christian, who welcomed Augustine becoming the first Archbishop of Canterbury, on the outside of the Cathedral and introduced us to the welcomers. We walked the sightseeing route which goes past the original shrine to Thomas Beckett, destroyed by Henry VIII, and the new one that has swords and a cross above it. Returning upstairs I was impressed by the crossing looking up into the Bell Harry Tower.
Canterbury has some beautiful stained glass including two modern ones by Erwin Bossanyi representing Peace and Salvation.
Dogs are allowed in the cathedral but not to services, so Dorothy stayed in the transept, and I attended Evening Prayer which included 30 minutes of silent prayer leaving Dorothy to wonder what had happened to me.
There is a well-stocked shop selling cathedral beer and gin, biscuits made in Harrogate and the usual cards, soaps, and some books. There are toilets in the grounds but not in the cathedral itself. We did not try out the tea shop within the Cathedral precinct as we had eaten so well in town.
There is an admission charge for adults, but it is free to attend services.