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Public Events at Canterbury Cathedral

Below you will find details of our main public events. To see details of all events and services, check the Calendar View, which can be viewed per day, week or month. For news items, see the News & Newsletter section.

January 2019

Canterbury War Horse

Event Date Starts 1 January
Over eight-million horses died during the First World War, of which many travelled through Kent on their way to the continent.
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Daily Mini Talks

Event Date Starts 1 January
Daily mini talks, providing an insight into the Cathedral’s rich history
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Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, World, War

Event Date This exhibition opened in October and continues until 19 February 2019.
Items from the Cathedral’s historic collection are off to London from an exhibition of Anglo-Saxon Life. See the tiny beautiful Anglo-Saxon sundial and the early 10th century Fonthill Letter, the earliest known example of a personal letter from a layman to the King of England.
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Apocalypse and Invasion; the age of Aethelred the Unready, c.966-1016

Event Date 24 January 2019, 19:00
The 2019 Historical Association Lecture is Apocalypse and Invasion; the age of Aethelred the Unready, c.966-1016 by Professsor Katy Cubitt from the University of East Anglia. This event is free for Historical Association members and students and £3 for others. No need to book. For further details contact the Cathedral Archives.
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Christianity in Chiaroscuro: The art and faith of Caravaggio

Event Date 29 January 2019 10:30
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was an Italian painter active from the 1590s to 1610. His paintings, often depicting religious scenes, combine a realistic observation of the human state, both physical and emotional, with a dramatic use of chiaroscuro – light and dark.
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February 2019

Lunchtime Concert

Event Date 6 February 13:00 - 14:00
Come and hear the musicians of Canterbury Christ Church University, the daughter institution of the Cathedral. With a distinguished tradition of musical study, composition, and performance, the university boasts ensembles and solo performers working in classical, choral, jazz, experimental, pop, and rock styles.
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Valentine’s Dinner

Event Date 14 Febuary 2019
The Cathedral Lodge invites you to enjoy a superb four-course Valentine’s dinner with coffee in its restaurant overlooking a courtyard terrace. A perfect setting for a romantic celebration. Please see the website for further details.
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Gargoyle Week

Event Date 19 February - 21 February
Gregory Gargoyle was no ordinary Gargoyle. He lived high up on the roof of Canterbury Cathedral and for hundreds of years sat patiently watching over the City. He certainly had a tale or two to tell. The problem was he was so SO high up nobody could hear.
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Explorer Backpacks

Event Date 19 February - 21 February
Our backpacks are full of tools to help children aged 3-12 investigate the Cathedral. 11.00 – 15.00 daily. Activities are free, normal precinct charges apply. Children must be accompanied at all times.
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Plants And Print-Making

Event Date 25 February 10:30 - 16:30
Join us for a day exploring gardening history at Canterbury Cathedral and developing print-making skills with a local artist. In the morning, the Cathedral’s Head Gardener, Philip Oostenbrink will give an illustrated talk on the history of the Cathedral’s gardens.
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March 2019

Illuminating The Bible In Medieval Canterbury

Event Date 4 March 18:45 - 19:45
The 2019 Archives and Library Lecture will be an illustrated lecture by Dr Alixe Bovey of the Courtauld Institute, London, to mark the acquisition by the Cathedral in July 2018 of the Lyghfield Bible, a medieval illuminated ‘pocket’ Bible.
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British Science Week

Event Date 9 March - 16 March
This year we are celebrating British Science Week at the Cathedral by exploring the architecture of the building. Drop in on either day to become engineers and discover how the arches in the Cathedral stay up. Activities are free, normal Precincts charges apply. Children must be accompanied at all times.
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King’s School Choral Concert

Event Date 16 March 19:30 - 21:30
The King’s School Chorus, formed of pupils, parents, staff and friends of the school, and the Symphony Orchestra come together to perform the epic German Requiem by Johannes Brahms in the Nave of Canterbury Cathedral. We are thrilled to welcome Marie Arnet to the school as soprano soloist, alongside Tristan Hamble (OKS), their baritone soloist.
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Mozart Requiem

Event Date 23 March 19:30 - 21:30
Mhairi Lawson soprano Marta Fontanals-Simmons mezzo-soprano Robin Bailey tenor Tristan Hambleton bass Mozart’s final composition has held its place amongst the great works of Classical music, and one which carries a deep intensity for audience and performers alike. The English Chamber Orchestra is one of the world’s leading chamber orchestras.
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Mothering Sunday Lunch

Event Date 31 March 2019
Every Mum deserves a chance to relax! Enjoy a delicious three-course lunch, followed by a stroll around the Cathedral grounds.
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April 2019

Scribes and Calligraphy: A Day At Canterbury Cathedral

Event Date 1 April 10:30 - 17:00
Enjoy a fascinating talk by Dr Alison Ray, Assistant Archivist, on the finely decorated (‘illuminated’) manuscripts in the Cathedral’s collections and on manuscript production by the monks here in the Middle Ages. This will be followed by a special display of items from the collections.
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Canterbury Cathedral Archive & Library Treasures

Event Date 13 April 10:00 - 12:30
This visit to the Cathedral Archives and Library will focus on the Tudor and Stuart books, manuscripts and other sources in the collections. On display will be examples from the archive of the cathedral, which dates from the 9th century onwards.
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Easter Sunday Lunch

Event Date 21 April 2019
Bring the family and enjoy a special 3-course lunch with coffee in the delightful restaurant at Canterbury Cathedral Lodge. After lunch, there will be an Easter Egg hunt for the children (big or small) in the beautiful Campanile garden! Please see the website for further details.
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May 2019

June 2019

Elgar The Apostles

Event Date 22 June - 19 June
An epic event for Canterbury Choral Society and Youth Choir together again with the Royal Philharmonic, following their triumphant performance of The Dream of Gerontius in June 2018.
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July 2019

Plants and Print-Making

Event Date 29 July 10:30 - 16:30
Join us for a day exploring gardening history at Canterbury Cathedral and developing print-making skills with a local artist. In the morning, the Cathedral’s Head Gardener, Philip Oostenbrink will give an illustrated talk on the history of the Cathedral’s gardens.
read more »
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