Canterbury+Cathedral

=Canterbury Cathedral=

Brief Facts
Canterbury Cathedral is located in Canterbury, Kent. This cathedral is one of the oldest and most famous structures in The United Kingdom. The Christian structure was founded in 597 with it being rebuilt from 1070 to 1077. The second renovation took place in 1174 after a fire in the building. The new cathedral was to be followed after a Gothic style with expansions eastward to accommodate pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas Becket. Becket was an archbishop who was murdered in the cathedral in 1170.

Famous Events
In June of 1170, the archbishop of York along with Gilbert Foliot, the bishop of London, and Josceline de Bohon, the bishop of Salisbury, crowned Henry the Young Kingat York. Since this was a breach of Canterbury's privilege of coronation, and in November 1170 Becket excommunicated all three. After hearing of this, Henry supposedly uttered something about Becket, which was mistaken by his men to kill Becket. Henry reportedly saying," Will no one rid me of the turbulent priest?" However, there are many versions of what was said. Whatever King Henry said, it was interpreted as a royal command. On December 29, 1170, four knights who went out to confront Becket, assassinated him near the monastic cloister, the stairs leading up to the crypt. After Becket's death, his body was prepared for burial. Soon, the faithful and religious through out Europe began to venerate Becket as a martyr. About two years after his death- he was canonised by Pope Alexander III in St. Peters Church in Segni, a town in the country of Italy.

Current Events and Artifacts
The cathedral library today currently has about 30,000 books and pamphlets printed before the 20th century and about 20,000 later books and serials. Earlier books were usually acquired as donated collections.It has many books rich in church history, including older theology, British History, local history, travel, science and medicine, and the anti-slavery movement. The cathedral currently has a fundraiser called, "The Canterbury Cathedral Appeal". Every five years, the cathedral carries out a structural review. Due to weather, pollution, and constant use, the cathedral needed urgent action. In the summer of 2009, many stones in the South West Transept were cracking seven iron braces around the Great South Window. The cracks were later presumed as a result due to metal expanding. Which is caused by hot and cold temperatures. The transept was closed as scaffolding was put up and the window was covered to keep the entrance from the south door behind it maintained. The area was given restoration immediately after the structural damage was discovered.

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