Monument record TR 15 NE 269 - Church of St Peter and St Paul

Summary

The Abbey church of St Peter and St Paul was founded by King Ethelbert sometime during the period from 597 to 619. Its form is known from excavations carried out in the early years of the 20th century. It is also known from the remarkable account of the demolition of the building made in the late 11th century by the writer Goscelin. The surviving lower courses of the walls are constructed re-using Roman bricks and are covered on both sides with a thin plaster. Known from documentary sources and confirmed by excavation to have had an important funerary function. Indeed, the tombs discovered represent the earliest identified church burials in England. Demolished during the late 11th century.

Location

Grid reference TR 1545 5775 (point) FCE
Map sheet TR15NE
County KENT
District CANTERBURY, KENT
Civil Parish CANTERBURY, CANTERBURY, KENT

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Full Description

(TR 15455775) Church of St Peter and St Paul. Ground plan survives (see illustration card). Built by King Ethelbert C7. Later joined with the chapel of St Mary (TR 15 NE 267) into a single enlarged abbey church by Abbot Wulfric. (1) Plan. (2) The foundations of the E apse were uncovered beneath Wulfric's octagon (TR 15 NE 266) during excavations c1915. (3-4) The church was begun in 598 but not completed until 613. It consisted of a nave with a porticus or chapel on either side - that on the N forthe tombs of the Archbishops and that on the S for the royal burial place. There may have been an apse at the E end and possibly another at the W end. In 978 the church was enlarged and dedicated to SS Peter and Paul. The whole of the N porticus or aisle was revealed during excavations in 1913 by RU Potts. (5) Additional reference. (6) A large part of the floor of the original Saxon church was exposed during excavations in the nave of the Abbey Church by RU Potts, 1922. (7) Additional references. (8-11) An E. cross wall of the church was revealed during excavations in 1957 and 1958 by A Saunders (see illustration card for plan). (12) Additional references. (13-14) Demolished c1073 - c1091 for construction of the Romanesque Church (TR 15 NE 350). (15) Additional reference. (16) Historic England archive material (17)


<1> AS Archit I 1965 135 139 148 plan (HM Taylor J Taylor) (OS Card Reference). SKE37374.

<2> Md Arch II 1958 187 (OS Card Reference). SKE46648.

<3> Arch 66 1915 386-390 plan (W St John Hope) (OS Card Reference). SKE34445.

<4> Arch Cant 32 1917 3 10 (W St John Hope) (OS Card Reference). SKE35014.

<5> Arch Cant 35 1921 117-118 122 (RU Potts) (OS Card Reference). SKE35029.

<6> Arch Cant 31 1915 295-6 (W St John Hope) (OS Card Reference). SKE35007.

<7> JBAA 28 NS 1922 130 (OS Card Reference). SKE44926.

<8> Arch J 84 1927 462-3 (RU Potts) (OS Card Reference). SKE36696.

<9> Arch 77 1927 203-205 208 210-211 plan (C Peers A Clapham) (OS Card Reference). SKE34450.

<10> Arch Cant 46 1934 181 (RU Potts) (OS Card Reference). SKE35172.

<11> Arch AS Eng 1976 163 165 plan (D Wilson) (OS Card Reference). SKE34477.

<12> Md Arch 22 1978 25-27 44-49 plans (A Saunders) (OS Card Reference). SKE46615.

<13> St Augustine's Abbey DOE Handbook 1955 8-9 (A Clapham) (OS Card Reference). SKE49561.

<14> Arch Cant 100 340 343 (M Sparks) (OS Card Reference). SKE34550.

<15> St Augustine's Abbey: Rpt on Excavs 1960-78: KAS Mon IV 1988 3-4 (D Sherlock H Woods) (OS Card Reference). SKE49594.

<16> St Augustine's Abbey Eng Heritage Handbook 1988 6 18-20 (M Sparks) (OS Card Reference). SKE49580.

<17> Historic England, Archive material associated with The Church of SS Peter and Paul at St Augustine's Abbey (Archive). SKE54638.

Sources/Archives (17)

  • <1> OS Card Reference: AS Archit I 1965 135 139 148 plan (HM Taylor J Taylor).
  • <2> OS Card Reference: Md Arch II 1958 187.
  • <3> OS Card Reference: Arch 66 1915 386-390 plan (W St John Hope).
  • <4> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 32 1917 3 10 (W St John Hope).
  • <5> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 35 1921 117-118 122 (RU Potts).
  • <6> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 31 1915 295-6 (W St John Hope).
  • <7> OS Card Reference: JBAA 28 NS 1922 130.
  • <8> OS Card Reference: Arch J 84 1927 462-3 (RU Potts).
  • <9> OS Card Reference: Arch 77 1927 203-205 208 210-211 plan (C Peers A Clapham).
  • <10> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 46 1934 181 (RU Potts).
  • <11> OS Card Reference: Arch AS Eng 1976 163 165 plan (D Wilson).
  • <12> OS Card Reference: Md Arch 22 1978 25-27 44-49 plans (A Saunders).
  • <13> OS Card Reference: St Augustine's Abbey DOE Handbook 1955 8-9 (A Clapham).
  • <14> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 100 340 343 (M Sparks).
  • <15>XY OS Card Reference: St Augustine's Abbey: Rpt on Excavs 1960-78: KAS Mon IV 1988 3-4 (D Sherlock H Woods). [Mapped feature: #43547 Church, ]
  • <16> OS Card Reference: St Augustine's Abbey Eng Heritage Handbook 1988 6 18-20 (M Sparks).
  • <17> Archive: Historic England. Archive material associated with The Church of SS Peter and Paul at St Augustine's Abbey.

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Record last edited

Jan 12 2022 2:22PM