Canterbury Cathedral / Christchurch Cathedral

History

Key events, dates and developments in the life of this church.

Description

Timeline

21st centuryExtensive conservation and restoration works continue across the cathedral precincts.
1988Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
1942Canterbury suffers bombing during the Baedeker raids; cathedral narrowly escapes major destruction.
1872Major Victorian restoration campaign undertaken by George Gilbert Scott.
1832–1841North-west tower rebuilt to match the medieval south-west tower.
1660Restoration of the monarchy restores Anglican worship at the cathedral.
1642–1648Cathedral suffers iconoclasm and damage during the English Civil War and Puritan occupation.
1540Benedictine monastery dissolved; cathedral reconstituted under the Church of England.
1538Shrine of Thomas Becket destroyed under Henry VIII during the English Reformation.
1494–1503Central Bell Harry Tower constructed.
1452Prior Thomas Goldstone begins rebuilding parts of the cloister.
1424–1434South-west tower constructed.
1410Nave rebuilding completed.
c.1200–1400Canterbury becomes one of the greatest pilgrimage destinations in medieval Europe.
1378Rebuilding of the nave in the Perpendicular Gothic style begins.
1220Shrine of St Thomas Becket translated to the Trinity Chapel in a grand ceremonial procession.
1184Choir, Trinity Chapel and Corona largely completed.
1179William the Englishman succeeds William of Sens after the latter is injured.
1175William of Sens begins Gothic rebuilding of the choir.
1174Major fire destroys much of the eastern cathedral.
1173Thomas Becket canonised by Pope Alexander III.
1170Archbishop Thomas Becket murdered in the north-west transept of the cathedral.
1130sMajor Romanesque crypt and choir works completed.
1093Archbishop Anselm begins expansion of the eastern arm and crypt.
1077New Norman cathedral substantially completed and dedicated.
1070Archbishop Lanfranc begins complete Norman rebuilding of the cathedral.
1067Cathedral damaged by fire shortly after the Norman Conquest.
1012Archbishop Ælfheah murdered by Vikings after refusing ransom.
1011Canterbury attacked by Viking forces; Archbishop Ælfheah captured.
c.1st centuryChristian worship believed to exist on or near the cathedral site during the Roman period.
597St Augustine arrives in Kent on mission from Pope Gregory the Great to convert the Anglo-Saxons.
602St Augustine reconsecrates the existing church at Canterbury as his cathedral.
604Augustine becomes first Archbishop of Canterbury.
c.740Cathedral community reorganised under Archbishop Cuthbert.
Present dayCanterbury Cathedral remains seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and mother church of the Anglican Communion.

Canterbury Cathedral / Christchurch Cathedral

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