St. Augustine Cross

  • The cross was erected by Lord Granville and his committee in 1884 in Ebbsfleet which was believed to be the first meeting site between King Ethelbert and St. Augustine.
  • The cross was carved by J Roddis of Birmingham.
  • Description
    • It is almost 7 meters high, set on a stepped base.
    • It is tapering shaft has a diaper pattern with carving on the four sides oft the shaft of the archbishops, angels, beasts etc.
    • It is surmounted by circular top of Celtic design.
    • It is similar in design to the great cross at Sandbach in Cheshire, of early English church.
The inscription on the cross
  • It was written by Dean Liddell one of lord Granville tutors.
  • The inscription is as follows:
On one side: English translation
Augustinus

ad Rutupina littola in insula Thaneti,

post tot terrae marisque labores,
tandem adveetus

hoe in loco cum Ethelberto rege congressus,

| primam apud nostrates coneionem habuit

et fidem chistianam

quae per totam Angliam mira celeritate diffusa est,
feliciter inauguravit

A.D. DXCVI.

Augustine

at length brought to Ebbs Fleet in the Isle of Thanet

after so many labours on land
and at sea,

at a conference with King Ethelbert on this spot,

delivered his first discourse to OUR' people,

and auspiciously founded the Christian faith,

which was diffused with wonderful rapidity throughout the whole of England.

A.D. 596.

On the other side: English Translation
Quarum Rerum

ut apud Anglos servetur memoria,

hoe monumentum ponendum curavit |

G. G. L. G. Comes Granville, Portuum Custos,

A.D. DCCCLXXXIV.

In order that the memory of these events

may be preserved among the English people,

Granville George Leveson-Gower, Earl Granville, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports,

has caused this monument to be erected.

A.D. 1884

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This site is constructed and maintained by Ghazwan Butrous.  Last Update: 23 May 1997