How about a Christmas day with a difference this year? Why not go to the magnificent Canterbury Cathedral one of the finest in the world and attend the Traditional Christmas Morning Service conducted by the head of The Church of England – the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Canterbury Carol Service
This will be the last Christmas address for the outgoing Archbishop Dr Rowan Williams, before he is succeeded in March 2013 by the Right Reverend Justin Welby.
The Origins of Canterbury Cathedral
St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, arrived on the coast of Kent as a missionary to England in 597 AD. He came from Rome, sent by Pope Gregory the Great. It is said that Gregory had been struck by the beauty of Angle slaves he saw for sale in the city market and despatched Augustine and some monks to convert them to Christianity.
Augustine was given a church at Canterbury (St Martin’s, after St Martin of Tours, still standing today) by the local King, Ethelbert whose Queen, Bertha, a French Princess, was already a Christian. This building had been a place of worship during the Roman occupation of Britain and is the oldest church in England still in use.
To continue reading this article see – canterbury-cathedral.org
Thank you to them for this extract.
Canterbury Official Tourist Information – Canterbury
Christmas Day Tour to Canterbury Rochester and Dover with Christmas Lunch
See Rochester’s Castle and picture-postcard Victorian High Street Attend Christmas Service at Canterbury Cathedral Traditional lunch in Canterbury See the White Cliffs of Dover
First-class luxury Motor-coach and the services of a professional Tour Guide Rochester Our first stop on this delightful day out is in Rochester, home to Charles Dickens, author of “A Christmas Carol”. See the beautiful Rochester Castle overlooking the River Medway and Rochester’s picture-postcard Victorian High Street
Rochester
Our first stop on this delightful day out is in Rochester, home to Charles Dickens, author of “A Christmas Carol”. See the beautiful Rochester Castle overlooking the River Medway and Rochester’s picture-postcard Victorian High Street
Canterbury Cathedral
To Canterbury Cathedral to attend the traditional Christmas Service with the Archbishop, followed by a traditional Christmas Lunch at a nearby hotel. There will also be some free time in Canterbury to explore the old town centre
Cathedral in Snow
Dover
We then journey to Dover to see the famous “White Cliffs” and take in a bit of fresh sea air before returning to London
We found this and thanks to them, at www.sightseeingtours.co.uk