History St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Canterbury

1 history

1.1 origin
1.2 foundation
1.3 construction
1.4 developments
1.5 relics

history

st mary magdalene chapel, demolished in 1871 make space church


origin

after english reformation, catholic community in canterbury survived through hales baronets. sir thomas hales, 2nd baronet helped catholics after 1688 revolution. had masses said them @ chapel in hales place. masses said @ chapel until 1923. sold jesuits in 1928.

foundation

in 1859, mission started in city. founded when mary ann wood gave 59 burgate street, current presbytery, use of catholic priest. land around house later purchased construction of church , school. land included medieval chapel dedicated st mary magdalene. in 1871, chapel demolished, tower remains standing.

construction

in 1874, building work on church started. designed john green hall, local architect. design of church influenced e. w. pugin died in 1875 , worked @ hales place in 1860s. high altar , lady chapel altar designed a. e. purdie. on 13 april 1875, church opened. preaching @ mass done archbishop of westminster, cardinal henry manning.

developments

in june 1942, buildings around church damaged in blitz. in 1953, relics , stations of cross donated church. had come westminster cathedral. donated cardinal bernard griffin after eric gill stations of cross installed in cathedral. in 1960s, when parish priest canon de laubenque, extensions , reordering done church. north side of church extended modern flat-roofed 2 storeys high, structure. martyrs chapel built on south side. contains relics of st thomas of canterbury. in 1989, sanctuary re-ordered. architect richard fulbrook. in 1997, mosaic installed in north aisle. depicts st augustine of canterbury.

relics

in martyrs chapel in church there reliquary on altar. contains piece of becket’s vestment , piece of bone body. in late 19th century, these given church mary hales, of hales baronets. relics came gubbio in umbria, where, since 1220s, had been held. in 1953, prior of chevetogne abbey, called fr thomas becquet, descendant of family of martyr, gave piece of becket’s finger church. either side of reliquary statues of st john fisher , st thomas more. chapel has stained glass window showing martyrdom of st thomas becket, st gregory great , st augustine of canterbury.

there reliquary set wall left of windows. contains parts of mass vestments of oscar romero, archbishop of san salvador. in 1997, these given church. on west wall of martyrs chapel statue of st john stone.