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.

March 2018

Suspended

23 Feb-16 May 2018

An evocative artwork being hung in the Nave to highlight the plight of refugees around the world.

Daily Mini Talks

Starts 4 April

Daily mini talks, providing a daily insight into the Cathedral’s rich history

14 April - 14 September 2018

Items of the Cathedrals historic collection on loan in exhibition at Fairfax House, York

26 April 10:30 - 11:30

Featuring Mary Thorneloe, flute, Alexandra Callanan, bassoon & David Knotts, piano. Come one, come all to see the animals big and small: the dancing elephant, the tortoise who knows how to beat the hare, the beautiful swan and more from Saint-Saëns much-loved suite.

26 April 18:15 - 20:00

A talk from the creator of Suspended, Arabella Dorman.

28 April 19:30 - 21:00

The Annual Canterbury Christ Church University School of Music and Performing Arts’ Cathedral Concert. The University’s professionally-directed ensembles present a spectacular programme in the peerless surroundings of Canterbury Cathedral, culminating in Mozart’s compelling setting of the Requiem Mass for orchestra, choir and soloists.

29 April, 11.00-15.00

Explore Canterbury Cathedral Lodge as a venue for your wedding and/or reception

Midday Recital

4 May, 12.00-12.30

Midday Recital from Koninklijk Kerkraads Mannenkoor, The Netherlands

10 May

Join us for services to celebrate Ascension Day

11 May, 12.00-12.30

Midday Recital from Residentie Kamerkoor, The Netherlands

15 May, 12.00-12.30

Midday Recital from University of Montevallo Concert Choir, Alabama, USA

20 May

Join us for all services to celebrate Pentecost

24 May 14:45 - 17:00

Cressida Williams, Head of Canterbury Cathedral Archives and Library, will give a fascinating talk about the finely decorated (‘illuminated’) manuscripts in the Cathedral’s collections, focussing on medieval items, but including a few more modern examples.

26 May - 11 November

A series of glass installations by international artists Philip Baldwin and Monica Guggisberg reflecting on themes of war and remembrance, migration and refugees.

26 May - 27 May

‘Oh Sow FRIENDly Sunflowers’ in the Friends’ Garden Visit us during Cathedral Open Gardens weekend and plant your own sunflower seed to take home with you.

26 May - 27 May

We are again opening our private gardens in the Precincts for visitors to enjoy and to support the National Garden Scheme (NGS) and charities. Full details of times and other information are to follow for this fantastic annual event.

29 May, 12.00-12.30

Midday Recital from Veluwse Koren Choir, Netherlands

30 May - 1 June, 11.00-16.00 each day

Explorer Backpacks return for half-term

31 May and 1 June, 11.00-15.00 each day

Have a go at stone carving

The University of Kent Chamber Choir – Pergolesi Stabat Mater

1 June 19:30 - 21:30

Pergolesi’s expressive, vivid Baroque masterpiece, rich in colour and fiery drama in a version for full choir, with a first half of music from Tallis to Russell Hepplewhite.

9 June 19:30 - 21:00

Canterbury Poet Laureate Lemn Sissay is one of the nation’s best-loved voices. His poems have become landmarks, sculpted in granite and built from concrete, recorded on era-defining albums and performed in over 30 countries. In this very special performance in The Nave, Lemn will perform his Poem For Canterbury, commissioned as part of his Laureateship.

14 June 14:30 - 15:30

Comprising all the parts you can remember, including 121 Archbishops, lots of good things, some bad things, and a number of genuine dates. Join our Precentor, the Reverend Max Kramer for a light-hearted talk that will contain lots of things you thought you knew but didn’t really. Plus a whole lot more.

23 June 2018, 19.30hrs

Canterbury Choral Society, together with their Youth Choir, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and professional soloists perform Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius

28 June, 12.00-12.30

Midday Recital from Napa High School Alumni Choir, California USA

29 June 10:00 - 13:00

The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral will be holding a plant sale with a host of bedding plants and herbs. Come early to avoid disappointment. Regretfully we cannot accept cards.

29 June, 12.00-12.30

Midday Recital from St Andrews United Methodist Church Choirs, Texas, USA

Medieval Pageant

7 July 11:00 - 13:00

Commemorating Henry II’s pilgrimage to Canterbury in 1174 this colourful parade features historical characters, mounted warriors , East Kent Giants , local schools, re-enactment groups, music and medieval mayhem.

7 July 18:30 - 23:59

Canterbury Cathedral Lodge invites you to enjoy the spectacular back drop of Canterbury Cathedral at their Summer Party on Saturday 7 July 2018. On arrival guests will enjoy a glass of Pimms and canapés in the beautiful Campanile Garden, overlooking the Cathedral, while being entertained by solo singer, Sarah Banks.

14 July 19:30 - 21:30

Enjoy a delightful selection of music from the Girls' Choir in what has become their traditional summer concert.

20 July 16:30 - 17:00

The annual service to be held in the Cathedral’s Memorial Garden. All are welcome to attend.

23 July 14:30 - 17:00

The Canterbury Cathedral Lodge invite you to join them for a special Stone Masonry Tour and Afternoon Tea. Heather Newton, Head of Conservation and her team, will give a fascinating overview of current projects and a rare opportunity to experience a behind-the-scenes tour of the Stone Mason’s workshop.

Queen’s Own Buffs Memorial Service

5 August 13:00 - 14:30

The Buffs annual memorial service.

13 August 14:30 - 17:00

Enjoy a full afternoon tea in our The Cathedral Lodge restaurant which overlooks a beautiful courtyard garden. Afterwards, experience a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of the Cathedral Archives and Library.

17 August 14:30 - 17:00

Enjoy a full afternoon tea in The Cathedral Lodge restaurant which overlooks a beautiful courtyard garden. Afterwards, experience a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of the Cathedral Archives and Library.

The FRIENDly Scarecrow Trail

7 September - 15 October

Take a stroll around the Precincts to find the Harvest Festival scarecrows. Donations to the Canterbury Food Bank are encouraged and may be left at collection points in The Precincts on the day you visit. This is a Family Friends of Canterbury Cathedral event and is open to all.

8 September 11:00 - 00:00

Hop Hoodening is the Kentish harvest festival featuring the traditional Hooden Horse, a hobby-horse with snapping jaws. There is a service in the Nave attended by the Hop Queen who arrives in a bower constructed of hop-bines. Morris men dance during the service and afterwards in the Precincts.

30 September 14:00 - 15:30

Bring your family pet to our informal Service. More details including confirmation of the timing will be available closer to the day. There is no Precincts entry charge for attending this service. This service is being held in connection with The Family Friends of Canterbury Cathedral and is open to all.

Remember Me?!

20 October - 11 November

A series of work produced by the Cathedral’s recent Artist in Residence, Dawn Cole, who has been using Canterbury Cathedral Archives as the starting point for a new body of work which explores the act of Remembrance. Further details of the exhibition to follow.

20 October - 3 November

The dates for the 2018 Canterbury Festival - further details to be confirmed.

Advent Wreath Workshop

1 December 11:00 - 15:00

Come and make your family’s Advent Wreath with greenery from the Cathedral gardens. All material for making your wreath will be provided . This is a Family Friends of Canterbury Cathedral event but is open to all. Come and find out about the Cathedral’s fan club.

March 2018

April 2018

May 2018

June 2018

July 2018

August 2018

September 2018

October 2018

December 2018