After a short train ride from France we went to church in Canterbury--a very small ward that was very welcoming. A little ways from the humble Canterbury ward sits Canterbury Cathedral. I found this story interesting about this city with a rich religious background.
On Wednesday, December 22, 1647, Canterbury's town crier proclaimed the county committee's order for the suppression of Christmas Day and its treatment as any other working day. However, a large crowd gathered 3 days later to demand a church service, decorate doorways with holly bushes, and keep the shops shut. This crowd - under the slogan 'For God, King Charles, and Kent' - then descended into violence and riot, with a soldier being assaulted, the mayor's house attacked, and the city under the rioters' control for several weeks until forced to surrender in early January.
Canterbury Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Church of England. St Augustine was sent by the Pope in 597 AD to re-establish Christianity in southern England and came to Canterbury. The cathedral sits in the middle of a quaint walking village. The details on this building are absolutely amazing inside and out. I felt like the cathedral (the oldest and largest Christian structures in England) was a shrine to honor the archbishops of the Church of England.
We made it into the church a few minutes before closing time. They were setting out music for the choir. This is where the Canterbury Cathedral Choir (the angelic boys' choir) practices.
1 comment:
The church (cathedral) is beautiful in your pictures I can only imagine what it looked like up close and personal. I'm glad you made it inside before it closed.
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