The Ghosts of Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and mother church of the Anglican Communion, has been a place of worship and pilgrimage since 597 AD. The murder of Thomas Becket in 1170 added a martyr to its history and a ghost to its population.

The Cathedral

St. Augustine founded the first church at Canterbury in 597 AD. The present cathedral dates largely from the 11th to 15th centuries. The shrine of Thomas Becket made it medieval Europe’s greatest pilgrimage destination. Today it remains a living church and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Thomas Becket

On December 29, 1170, four knights murdered Archbishop Thomas Becket in his cathedral. The spot where he fell became a site of pilgrimage and miracles. Becket’s ghost has been reported in the cathedral, a figure in bishop’s robes walking toward the place of his martyrdom.

The Monks

Canterbury was a Benedictine monastery until the Dissolution. Monks in black robes have been seen in the cloisters and chapter house, processing as if to services that ended five centuries ago. Their silent processions occur regardless of observers.

The Pilgrims

Ghostly pilgrims have been reported in the nave, making their way toward where Becket’s shrine once stood. Henry VIII destroyed the shrine, but the pilgrims, it seems, still come. They appear in medieval clothing, expressions of hope and devotion on their faces.

The Bell Harry Tower

Figures have been seen in the Bell Harry Tower, the cathedral’s great central tower. Workers and visitors have encountered presences in the tower’s upper levels, where few living people go. The nature and identity of these spirits is unknown.

Assessment

Canterbury Cathedral has been a focal point of English Christianity for over 1,400 years. The millions of prayers, pilgrimage journeys, and the violent martyrdom of Becket have saturated its stones with spiritual energy that manifests as reported phenomena.