Canterbury in Kent, UK

• Canterbury was the capital of Kent in England, on the River Stour.
• Canterbury Cathedral is the mother church of the Anglican Communion throughout the world.
• The Archbishop of Canterbury is enthroned in St Augustine's Chair at Canterbury Cathedral.
• Since 1072, by the Accord of Winchester, the Archbishop of Canterbury has also been Primate of All England, giving his office at one time a power even over kings.
• The archbishopric of Canterbury is older than the kingship of a united England, twice as old as Parliament, twice as old as the ancient universities.

---

Roman Canterbury

• The earliest settlement to have been revealed by archaeologists dates back to three hundred years before the time of Christ.
• When Julius Caesar came on his second expedition in 54 BC the Roman VIIth Legion stormed the Celtic hillfort at Bigbury.
• Canterbury became a permanent settlement and centre of trade with the Celtic name of Durwhern.
• the Romans returned in AD 43,  at the time of Emperor Claudius  and gave the gave the name of Durovernum Cantiacorum  to the present Canterbury. (Durovernum after the Celtic name of Durwhern and Cantiacorum meaning of the Cantiaci or Kentish people).
• This prosperous city was connected  with the continent by way of the three ports of Richborough (Rutupiae), Dover (Dubris) and Lympne (Lemanis).
• Canterbury (Durovernum Cantiacorum)  was connected by many Roman roads as Watling Street,
• The foundations of the Roman city wall, built between AD 270 and 290, lie beneath the existing walls.
• One of the most exciting finds ever to be discovered in Canterbury was a hoard of silver, buried about AD 410, which included some silver spoons bearing the Greek letters chi rho, the first two letters of Christ's name. The chi rho monogram shows that Christianity was well established at Canterbury towards the end of the Roman era.

Saxon Canterbury

• Also called Cantwaraburh- meaning Kentish people's Stronghold .
• Canterbury lost its Roman glory, and many streets and Roman roads fell into disuse.
• It was the seat of King Ethelbert of Kent who married the Christian Frankish Princess Bertha.
• It maintained many of its roman heritages.
• The main church in Saxon Canterbury was St Martin's Church, a church founded in Roman times which had served as a chapel for Queen Bertha.