Stolen from us at the Deformation.
St Martin’s Church in Canterbury is said to be the oldest complete standing building in England. But what is the story behind this ancient structure? It starts in Kent in the early Anglo-Saxon era, a time when the country was almost entirely pagan… Sources: • Bede, Ecclesiastical History. Not going to lie, my Bede is at my parents’ house, so I used Project Gutenberg, which is a bit archaic but served its purpose ✨
Now, normally I am hugely sceptical of Bede, and this is no exception. However, he is one of the only sources we really have about this situation (read into that what you will) and what he says does match up with the extant letters from Pope Gregory to Bertha and Augustine, and a brief mention of Bertha’s marriage by Martin of Tours. • Gregory the Great, Registum Epistolarum, Book XI, Letter 29 - the letter that Pope Gregory sent Bertha. Not sure if it’s available online but mine is edited by D. Norberg. • John Blair, The Church in Anglo-Saxon Society. It’s from 2006 so a bit dated, but I love the detail on the burial finds and greater context. This is Oxford University Press, and not hugely expensive. Also consulted (mainly to seek clarity on certain architectural features that are not pictured in the Historic England or English Heritage Listings): • Eleanor Parker, A Clerk of Oxford Blog, 'St Martin's Church, Canterbury'. • Patricia Lovett, Blog Post, 'St Martin’s Church, Canterbury' I also used resources on the Historic England and English Heritage websites. The article about the oldest building is on the Historic England blog. Other information, such as the blocked doors outside the church, came from the volunteer guide and materials there.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are subject to deletion if they are not germane. I have no problem with a bit of colourful language, but blasphemy or depraved profanity will not be allowed. Attacks on the Catholic Faith will not be tolerated. Comments will be deleted that are republican (Yanks! Note the lower case 'r'!), attacks on the legitimacy of Pope Francis as the Vicar of Christ (I know he's a material heretic and a Protector of Perverts, and I definitely want him gone yesterday! However, he is Pope, and I pray for him every day.), the legitimacy of the House of Windsor or of the claims of the Elder Line of the House of France, or attacks on the legitimacy of any of the currently ruling Houses of Europe.