Canterbury is a fairly small and cosy university town at the southeastern tip of England. I heard French and Dutch spoken in the streets, proof of the proximity of the European mainland: at nearby Dover, the ferries from France dock and the Eurostar train terminal is at Ashford, 20 kilometres away. This link to Europe also is what brought WHS status to Canterbury's monuments: historic and symbolic stepping points in the spreading of Christianity to England from the mainland.

The story starts with St. Martin's Church, a tiny parish church. Christian communities already existed in England in the first or second century, but they practiced separately from the Church of Rome and paganism still was abundant on the island. In the 6th century, St. Martin's became the private chapel of Queen Bertha of Kent. Queen Bertha was a Christian when she arrived in England and her husband King Ethelbert allowed her to continue to practice her religion in an existing church in use in the late Roman period. This church is still in use nowadays, making it the oldest in England. There's an old cemetery and some tall trees, I found it a bit spooky wandering around on my own.

Not far from St. Martin's are the ruins of St. Augustine Abbey. It was founded in 597 by (Saint) Augustine, who had been sent by Pope Gregory I to England to revive Christianity. The exact site has seen many uses since then, from a Benedictine monastery to a palace to a hospital. It has slowly fallen into disrepair. Its ruins are now locked behind large walls to prevent any further damage. Opening hours are limited (especially in winter), but I managed to get in on a Sunday morning. There's an informative exhibition about St. Augustine and there are rather good views over the town's historic sites.

The number one landmark of course is the Cathedral at the heart of Canterbury's old town. Its origins can be traced back to the time of St. Augustine, although the current building mostly dates from the 11th century. It is the Cathedral of the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, the religious leader of the Church of England. In this, it symbolizes the different path Christianity has taken in England (with the abolishment of papal authority by King Henry VIII in 1534). The Cathedral also is acknowledged for its Gothic art, among which are fabulous stained glass windows.

In all, Canterbury is a good day trip from London or the mainland. Visiting the three sites that are part of the WHS will give you a good introduction to how Christianity came to England and how it developed.