Church Day

Warning: This post (and a couple others) has been edited and added to. That'll show me to make a post in the middle of the day. So, there's new stuff here. :)

Compared to the last few (and tomorrow), today is a pretty slow day. I had class this morning, where we talked about Neolithic Britons and the henges, after I made it there, of course. I got a little bit turned around and had to find the rest of the class to follow to make it to the cafeteria.

Afterward, we met to go on a walking tour of the churches. First we went to St. Martin's Church. St. Martin's church has a wonderful history. It was built by the Romans and used by Queen Bertha, a Christian princess from France who was married to the pagan King Ethelbert. Pope Gregory sent St. Augustine to King Ethelbert to bring Christianity back to the British Isles, and St. Augustine used St. Martin's as his main church, expanding it. Later, the Norman's added on to the church, but the church is supposed to be the oldest continually used Christian church.

Then we went to St. Augustine's Abbey. The abbey was built by St. Augustine on land given to him by King Ethelbert. The Anglo-Saxon buildings were mostly torn down by the Normans, who built a larger abbey on the grounds, rededicating it as St. Augustine's Abbey (originally it was dedicated to Sts. Peter and Paul). Then, Henry VIII broke with the Church and the abbey was destroyed and some of the larger buildings were used as a palace for Anne of Cleves. Elizabeth I and Charles I also used the palace, then it passed out of royal hands and eventually was abandoned. The ruins are uncovered now and make a very peaceful place to visit. There is very little of the walls still standing, but quite a bit of the crypt is still there, including a chapel with some painted tiles and an altar with crosses carved into it. One of the signs showed a picture of a coconut that was held in silver because it was so rare and valuable. To which I had to immediately begin "Where'd you get the coconuts?" "We found them." "In Mercia?!" I also got to try some Honey Mead. It was just too English of a thing to pass up. Besides, that was the one thing that I'd always wanted to try. It tasted like honey, but it had a bit of a kick.

I found the Catholic Church today! It was actually only a block or two over from how we get to the train station, so once I saw the spire it was easy to find. It's called St. Thomas and it's named for Thomas a Becket, who made Canterbury a pilgrimage spot. It actually has relics and a shrine for St. Thomas. It's a beautiful old church, but I didn't take any pictures. I'll have to when I go back. The choir was just starting practice when I got there. I was sitting there for a while when they started playing 'Here I Am, Lord.' I was off to the opposite side of the church, so I sang along softly. I love that song. They have a lute! It makes for a beautiful sound. I got a postcard and I'm going to go look at the little store that they have.
I've started on a bit of homework and looked at how to get to Battle to see the Battlefield for the Battle of Hastings (which didn't actually take place in Hastings) and the Abbey that William the Conqueror built there. I'd also like to see Hastings Castle, but I don't know if it's open. From Google, it looks amazing. McGee suggested that I invite the military history specialist and he's agree it's something he wants to see.

Tomorrow is Stonehenge! I'm so excited! I was thinking of taking Tuesday to crash, go to daily mass, write my paper and run errands and then go to the British Museum on Wednesday (my birthday!). I know another girl who is planning on going to an art museum or might go with me to the British Museum, but I'd be able to at least ride the train up with her. The house is emptying out for our free days, but I don't mind. I'm trying to think if there's something I want to do Tuesday afternoon and I still need to find something to do on Thursday. I don't want to sit around here. I can do most of the stuff here after a class day, so I want to get out to see England while I can. Maybe I'll go to Dover Tuesday afternoon...