aturday 4^th June

Friends’ Day

We welcome you to join ONE of the following tours.  You will need a ticket for your tour and an administrative fee of £5 will be charged for each one.

*Please note that the tours are only available for current Friends’ Members* 

10.30am             Climb the Bell Harry Tower and explore the Roof Spaces of the Cathedral

Join Brigadier John Meardon, Receiver General at the Cathedral, and members of the Cathedral Masonry Team for this exciting opportunity to see parts of the Cathedral that you do not usually get to see.  Not only will you enjoy unparalleled views of the City and the Cathedral, you will also learn about the history and architecture of the tower and the cathedral. 

*The climb is only for those strong of ‘heart and limb’, with a good head for heights - there are around 300 stone steps up narrow spiral staircases.*

10.30am             Tour of the Precincts

                            Mr Paul Bennett, Director of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust will take you on this
                            fascinating tour where you will learn what lies ‘beneath and above’ those well-trodden
                            steps and stones of our Cathedral Precincts.

11am                  Visit to the Deanery

By kind invitation join the Dean, the Very Reverend Robert Willis who will welcome you into his home and share with you the history of the Deanery, its architecture and the rare collection of paintings of Deans of Canterbury through the ages.  If you have visited the Deanery before please be kind and let others who have not, enjoy this visit.

11am                  Visit Chillenden Chambers

By kind invitation of the Archdeacon, the Venerable Sheila Watson, join us for a guided tour of the outside of this beautiful house and the gardens of Chillenden Chambers, which is one of the most historic houses in the Precincts.

11am                  Stained Glass Tour

                            Join our stained glass expert guides for a specialist guided tour of the Cathedral’s wonderful stained glass collection.

12.15pm         Lunch in the Kings School Dining Room 

Carvery Menu

Traditional Roast Beef served with Yorkshire pudding

Roast Stuffed Pork Loin

Honey Glazed Gammon

Butternut Squash Risotto served with Shaved Parmesan (V) (to be ordered in advance)

Roast & New Potatoes

Cauliflower Cheese

Oven Roasted Root Vegetables - Carrots, Parsnips & Swede

Brambly Apple Pie served with Cream /ice cream

Exotic Fresh Fruit Salad (to be ordered in advance)

Coffee & Homemade Fudge

2 Glasses of House Wine or soft drinks per Person

Mineral Water

£27.00 per Member

£29.00 per Non-Member

2pm – 2.45pm   AGM in St Mary’s Hall in the Borough (just outside the Mint Yard Gate and beyond the Milner Hall - formerly part of St Mary's Church)

3.15pm               Evensong in the Quire  

4pm – 6pm         Afternoon Tea in the Deanery Garden with Cocktail Music by the Chris Manley Duo

Afternoon Tea Menu

                            *In case of wet weather tea will be moved to the King’s School Dining Room*

Wednesday 20^th July

Visit the Red House and Danson House in the company of Linda Parry who is a leading expert, and author of several publications on William Morris

The two houses contrast each other beautifully and are important examples of two quite contrasting periods and styles. Red House is the only house commissioned, created, lived in and owned by William Morris, founder of the Arts and Crafts movement. Red House is a building of extraordinary architectural and social significance. When it was completed in 1860, it was described by Edward Burne-Jones as 'the beautifullest place on earth'. The house is not fully furnished, but the original features and built-in furniture by Morris and Philip Webb, stained glass and paintings by Burne-Jones, the bold architecture and a garden designed to 'clothe the house' add up to a fascinating and rewarding place to visit.

Danson House was built c 1766 in Bexleyheath. The house is primarily the creation of two men: John Boyd, the owner, and his architect Robert Taylor. It reflects a preoccupation with the Golden Age of antiquity and is full of the symbolism of classical mythology. It is a revival of Italian villa design from the area around Vicenza in the second half of the sixteenth century. The leading architect at that time was Andrea Palladio.  The house, admired by Pevsner as ‘crystalline’ in its architecture, has a principal floor which is sumptuous after painstaking investigations and reconstruction, a fine entrance hall, a stunning dining room with the original 18th century wall paintings, an elegant salon and an opulent library with the Danson organ (which is still played at recitals in the house).  We can also ascend the elliptical staircase and see the bedroom floor.

Linda Parry will introduce us to the life of William Morris as we travel to Bexleyheath to see these two marvellous properties.  Linda will be on hand all day to answer any questions you might have.  We will have guided tours by local guides at each of the properties.

Thursday 8^th September

Join us for a very special day at Hever Castle with private guided tours of the Castle and the lovely gardens

The castle dates back to 1270, but in the early 1500s the Bullen family bought, it adding a Tudor dwelling within the walls, which became the childhood home of its most famous inhabitant, Anne Boleyn. It later passed into the ownership of Henry’s fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. The Castle has a homely atmosphere and houses historic 16th century Tudor portraits, furniture and tapestries. Other artefacts include two magnificent Books of Hours (prayer books), both signed and inscribed by Anne Boleyn, costumed figures of Henry VIII and his six wives, and collections of historic swords, armour, instruments of execution, torture and discipline. 

The gardens at Hever Castle were laid out between 1904 and 1908 by Joseph Cheal & Son, turning marshland into the spectacular gardens you see today.  During our visit in September you will see colourful dahlias and Japanese maples, beech, and other plants with coloured bark that are starting to show their beautiful autumnal colours. The Winter Garden and late roses are well worth seeing too.  Our tours will be taken by the gardening team at the Castle.

Please note that Hever Castle have kindly offered these tours without charge so this really is a very special opportunity for us - normally it would cost a lot more to make this sort of visit.  Also note that when we take our guided tour of the castle we will have it to ourselves.

Continued overleaf

Wednesday 5^th October - Open Evening

Put this date in your diary and tell your friends and family – more details in the Autumn Mailing

Sunday 23^rd – Sunday 30^th October : In the Footsteps of Saint Paul the Apostle Cruise

We still have some availability for our lovely cruise – please contact us for details.

Wednesday 14^th December - Friends Christmas Carol Service and Dinner