Historic churches · South East England
St Augustine's Abbey
In or near Canterbury.
St Augustine's Abbey — monastery in Canterbury, Kent, England, UK.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 30 min–1 h
- Nearest railway station
- Canterbury East · 1.0 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
St Augustine's Abbey is located in Canterbury, Kent, with the postcode CT1 1TF. The nearest railway station is Canterbury East, which is 1 km away. Entry is free, but wheelchair accessibility is limited.
About
St Augustine's Abbey is a historic church in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to AD 598. It covers approximately 8 km². Built in the Gothic architecture style. Heritage designation: scheduled monument. Affiliated with Church of England. Owned by English Heritage. Managed by English Heritage. Named after Augustine of Hippo. Part of Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church. Address: CT1 1TF. Wikidata describes it as: "monastery in Canterbury, Kent, England, UK". Coordinates: 51.2781°, 1.0882°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
St Augustine's Abbey (founded as the Monastery of Ss Peter and Paul and changed after its founder St Augustine of Canterbury's death) was a Benedictine monastery in Canterbury, Kent, England. The abbey was founded in 598 and functioned as a monastery until its dissolution) in 1538 during the English Reformation. After the abbey's dissolution, it underwent dismantlement until 1848. Since 1848, part of the site has been used for educational purposes (used as boarding houses and a library by The King's School, Canterbury) and the abbey ruins have been preserved for their historical value.
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Summary from the official site
St Augustine's Abbey is a historic site that offers visitors a glimpse into its rich past, including the remains of the abbey founded in the 6th century. Guests can explore the ruins and learn about the significance of the site in the context of English history.
Read more on the official property page.
Protected designations
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Kent Downs
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
St Augustine's Abbey (founded as the Monastery of Ss Peter and Paul and changed after its founder St Augustine of Canterbury's death) was a Benedictine monastery in Canterbury, Kent, England. The abbey was founded in 598 and functioned as a monastery until its dissolution) in 1538 during the English Reformation. After the abbey's dissolution, it underwent dismantlement until 1848. Since 1848, part of the site has been used for educational purposes (used as boarding houses and a library by The King's School, Canterbury) and the abbey ruins have been preserved for their historical value.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
Description
After Wynhere there is a period which Kelly calls the "century of uncertainty", in which the names given by later historians of the abbey are dubious or even fictional. It is unlikely that all the fifteen men listed below were abbots and possible that none were:
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.2781, 1.0882
- County
- Kent
- District
- Canterbury
- Parish
- Canterbury, unparished area
- Postcode
- CT1 1TF
- Parliamentary constituency
- Canterbury
- Established
- 598
- Nearest railway station
- Canterbury East — 1 km
- Official site
- www.english-heritage.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q334303 (CC0)
- wikipedia: St Augustine's Abbey (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: St Augustine's Abbey - general view - geograph.org.uk - 3092087.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is St Augustine's Abbey?
- St Augustine's Abbey is in Kent, South-East England, United Kingdom (postcode CT1 1TF), in the parish of Canterbury, unparished area.
- What is St Augustine's Abbey?
- St Augustine's Abbey — monastery in Canterbury, Kent, England, UK.
- How do I get to St Augustine's Abbey?
- The nearest railway station is Canterbury East, about 1.0 km away. Drivers can use postcode CT1 1TF.
- When was St Augustine's Abbey built?
- Built or established in 598.
- Who runs St Augustine's Abbey?
- St Augustine's Abbey is operated by English Heritage.
- Is St Augustine's Abbey a listed building?
- St Augustine's Abbey is officially recognised as scheduled monument listed.
- Is St Augustine's Abbey a protected site?
- Yes — St Augustine's Abbey is part of the Kent Downs National Landscape (AONB).
- Is St Augustine's Abbey free to visit?
- Yes, St Augustine's Abbey is free to enter.