{"id":7953,"date":"2021-11-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=7953"},"modified":"2022-01-07T14:05:46","modified_gmt":"2022-01-07T13:05:46","slug":"england-in-stone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/2021\/11\/23\/england-in-stone\/","title":{"rendered":"England in stone"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL<\/span><\/h1>\n\n

England in stone<\/span><\/h2>\n\n

Despite its age, Canterbury Cathedral remains a beating heart of Christianity<\/p>\n\n

\"\"
After Becket\u2019s death, miracles were reported at the cathedral, bringing pilgrims from far and wide<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

T<\/span>he mother church of the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion, Canterbury Cathedral has been an important centre of Christianity for more than 1,400 years. However, little remains of the original cathedral, which lies beneath the nave of the present building, or of the Norman cathedral erected shortly after the Conquest. In fact, today\u2019s impressive edifice is the amalgamation of some 900 years of building and rebuilding since 1070.<\/p>\n\n

But aside from its impressive architecture, the cathedral is also known for being the site of a particularly brutal murder.<\/p>\n\n

In 1162, Henry II\u2019s close friend and chancellor, omas Becket, was appointed archbishop of Canterbury \u2013 the most senior bishop role in the Church of England. By giving Becket such an important promotion, the king hoped he would support his future plans.<\/p>\n\n

However, relations between the pair began to sour when, in 1164, Henry attempted to introduce a set of laws that would give the Crown more power and influence over the Church. When Becket refused to accept the changes, the king tried to put him on trial, causing the archbishop to flee to France. Making the most of Becket\u2019s absence, Henry had his son \u2013 also named Henry \u2013 crowned by the Archbishop of York as a junior king to ensure his succession. After an intervention by Pope Alexander III, Henry and Becket managed to resolve some of their di erences, and Becket returned home \u2013 but not before writing a letter excommunicating the bishops involved in the coronation.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Precisely what happened next is still the cause of some debate. Upon discovering Becket\u2019s actions, a furious Henry is said to have cried out \u201cWhy am I troubled by this low-born priest?\u201d, leading four over-zealous knights to set off for Canterbury. Trying to force him to come to terms, tempers boiled over and on 29 December 1170 the knights hacked Becket to death in the northwest transept.<\/p>\n\n

Henry claimed that he never intended Becket to be killed, but he nevertheless performed public penance, allowing himself to be whipped as he prayed for forgiveness. Becket, meanwhile, was declared a martyr and canonised in 1173.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"
A stained-glass panel depicts Becket\u2019s slaying<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>
\n

WHAT TO SEE<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
  • \"\"
    1\ufe0f\u20e3 TRINITY CHAPEL<\/strong> Originally the site of Becket\u2019s tomb, this now houses the remains of Edward, the Black Prince<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
  • \"\"
    2\ufe0f\u20e3 CORONA CHAPEL <\/strong>Named after the severed crown of Thomas Becket, this forms the cathedral\u2019s east end<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
  • \"\"
    3\ufe0f\u20e3 THE MARTYRDOM<\/strong> The exact spot where Becket was killed can be viewed inside the northwest transept<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
  • \"\"
    4\ufe0f\u20e3 SHRINE<\/strong> A lit candle shows where Becket\u2019s shrine once stood before it was destroyed during the Reformation<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
  • \"\"

    5\ufe0f\u20e3<\/strong> NAVE<\/strong> The cathedral\u2019s central section was rebuilt in the late 14th century and contains one of its oldest stained-glass windows, depicting the biblical Adam<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
  • \"\"
    6\ufe0f\u20e3 GREAT SOUTH WINDOW <\/strong>This contains the 12th-century Ancestors of Christ stained-glass windows<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
  • \"\"
    7\ufe0f\u20e3 CLOISTERS<\/strong> The centre of monastic life at Canterbury<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>
  • \"\"
    8\ufe0f\u20e3 CRYPT<\/strong> Dating back to the 11th century, this is the oldest surviving part of the cathedral<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

    BIG NUMBERS <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

    100,000<\/span> <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

    No fewer than 100,000 pilgrims are said to have visited Canterbury in 1420, the fifth 50-year \u2018jubilee\u2019 of Becket\u2019s martyrdom<\/p>\n\n

    \n\n

    3,600 <\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

    The number of fire bombs dropped on Canterbury by the German Luftwaffe on one day in 1942<\/p>\n\n

    \n\n

    3 <\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

    The number of archbishops of Canterbury who have been murdered: Alphege, Thomas Becket and Simon of Sudbury<\/p>\n\n

    \n\n

    1,200 <\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

    More than 1,200 square metres of stained glass fill the cathedral\u2019s huge windows<\/p>\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n

    <\/div>
    \n

    A cathedral through time<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    AD 597<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    Saint Augustine arrives in Kent as a Christian missionary on the orders of Pope Gregory the Great. He establishes the original Canterbury Cathedral and becomes the first archbishop of Canterbury.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n
    1077<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    The Norman stone cathedral is completed under the orders of Archbishop Lanfranc.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n
    1174<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    A devastating fire tears through the building, melting the lead roof and causing widespread damage. Rebuilding the cathedral will take 10 years.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n
    1220<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    The cathedral becomes an important site of medieval pilgrimage when Thomas Becket\u2019s body is placed in its shrine.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    1498<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The 250-foot Bell Harry Tower is completed \u2013 the last major addition to the cathedral.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n
    1538\u201340<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    On the orders of Henry VIII, Becket\u2019s shrine is destroyed and the monastery dissolved.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n
    1660\u20131704<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    The cathedral undergoes repair work after being damaged by Puritans during the Civil Wars. Many of the medieval stained-glass windows are smashed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n
    1954<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    The cathedral\u2019s library is rebuilt after being damaged in a World War II bombing raid. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

    PICTURE CREDITS: GETTY IMAGES X7, ALAMY X5<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    We pay a visit to Canterbury Cathedral, and investigate the bloody murder that took place there in 1170<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":8482,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"46","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"46","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_46-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_46-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"Christmas-2021","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"Christmas-2021","purple_external_id":"Christmas-2021-46-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"Christmas-2021-46-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000090391||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000090391||","purple_android_product":"com.im.historyrevealed.102","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.historyrevealed.102","purple_ios_product":"com.im.historyrevealed.102","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.historyrevealed.102","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"a2288b80-d22c-492c-8b11-acb0804789ee","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2021-12-06T14:18:42Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"d24d80f8-45a3-49ab-aa85-47cefb7288dc","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-01-07T13:05:53Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQ==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/A0k2A-EWjSauqhUfO-3KI3A","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[68],"tags":[55],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/11\/GettyImages_1224086261.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"5","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/11\/GettyImages_1224086261.jpg",2000,1331,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/11\/GettyImages_1224086261-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/11\/GettyImages_1224086261-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/11\/GettyImages_1224086261-768x511.jpg",768,511,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/11\/GettyImages_1224086261-1024x681.jpg",800,532,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/11\/GettyImages_1224086261-1536x1022.jpg",1536,1022,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/11\/GettyImages_1224086261.jpg",2000,1331,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"We pay a visit to Canterbury Cathedral, and investigate the bloody murder that took place there in 1170","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7953"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7953"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7953\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8982,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7953\/revisions\/8982"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8482"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7953"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7953"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7953"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}