Makers, Rulers and Leaders:
Celebrating the Women of Canterbury Cathedral
As we mark International Women’s Day, Canterbury Cathedral is proud to launch this summer’s event programme: Makers, Rulers and Leaders. A season dedicated to uncovering and celebrating the remarkable women who shaped the Cathedral’s past.
For more than fourteen centuries, the Cathedral has risen above the city like a great stone chronicle, its towers etched with triumphs, trials, and transformations. Pilgrims, Kings, Archbishops, rebels, poets; all have walked its worn paths. Woven through these grand narratives is a strong resilient thread: the legacy of women whose influence, devotion, creativity, and courage have guided the Cathedral’s evolution in ways both subtle and bold.
This summer, we invite visitors to step into their stories and discover these figures who helped shape one of England’s most iconic sacred spaces.
This year’s programme brings focus to three women whose stories reveal the depth and diversity of Canterbury’s past.
At the forefront is Archbishop Dame Sarah Mullally, honoured in Leadership. Her journey from nurse to Archbishop reflects a modern form of ministry grounded in compassion, inclusion, and courage.
Queen Bertha of Kent, whose Christian faith travelled with her from the Frankish world, stands at the Foundations of Faith. Even before Augustine arrived in 597, sent from Rome as a missionary to convert the English, her fortitude and devotion helped create the conditions in which Christianity could take root in Kent, and ultimately spread across England.
And for royalty, Queen Elizabeth I, visiting nearly a millennium later, represents Royalty at a moment of national transformation. Her 1573 visit affirmed her authority over the Church and helped shape the Cathedral’s identity after the upheavals of the Reformation.
Together, these women show how female influence, quiet or commanding, has continually shaped, protected, and re‑imagined this sacred place across the centuries.
Our full summer programme will be released very soon, but visitors can already look forward to a season filled with inspiring events and activities. Expect thought‑provoking talks led by pioneering women in leadership making a difference today, alongside sessions that uncover the stories of the women whose footsteps laid the path before them. Families can enjoy creative crafts and interactive trails, and we will celebrate women’s voices through collaborations with city partners and festivals across the UK.
With all this, and much more, to be revealed, this June-August at Canterbury Cathedral promises to be a celebration of history, creativity, and the extraordinary women who continue to shape our world.
Book your tickets now
Tickets start from £18.00, or free if you have a Cathedral Pass or Friends Card.
Other concessions available, with a valid proof of eligibility.
Group visits and school visits must be booked separately; KIDS GO FREE offer does not apply to group or school visits.
