Pilgrimage to Canterbury

Thomas a Beckett was martyred in the cathedral by four knights who interpreted King Henry II’s enraged comment as a commission to rid him of the famous archbishop. Henry IV is the only monarch buried within the cathedral. The Black Prince, his uncle, is also buried there. The cathedral has two transepts. The cathedral also reflects influences from the Romanesque, Gothic, and High Gothic eras, as the church was built and then added upon for centuries. The nave is absolutely grandiose!
It is unbelievable to me just how incredibly old that cathedral is. Our guide knew so much information and the tour was fascinating and very informative; I enjoyed every minute! The grandeur and intricacy of the architecture and decorum was also pretty amazing. It was neat to see the influence of the different time periods on the architecture of the different parts of the cathedral. For example, there was one series of three small arches where the first two were rounded, reflecting the Romanesque period, followed by a third, Gothic-style pointed arch. It looked kind of out of place, yet was a neat preservation of architectural evolution. Seeing the exact spot where Thomas a Beckett was murdered was surreal. I could almost picture him at the top of the stairs, calmly answering the murderous knights yelling in the doorway, then bravely descending the steps to a certain and gruesome death. There is so much history within those immense walls, within each detailed stained glass window, below each vaulted arch.
I was impressed by the knowledge of my guide, but more especially with his respect and reverence for the church, this country, and its history. I sincerely appreciated his reminder that the Canterbury cathedral is not a museum, but a fully functioning church, and must necessarily be treated as such. I thought it was neat that we were asked to maintain reverential silence and abstain from photography while we went down to the church’s crypt.
It is amazing to have read Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and then make the same pilgrimage, from London to Canterbury. It’s one thing to read about it, but quite another to actually see the cathedral, hear its history as well as that of Thomas a Beckett, and get somewhat more of a real understanding of the importance of religion in the lives of so many people. The people that used to make the pilgrimage came from different backgrounds, with completely different roles in society. So very different, yet united under the essential role that religion played in their lives. I enjoyed the entire experience immensely, and learned so much both culturally and academically.