Canterbury in Kent, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
Tombs of kings and archbishops
St Augustine's Abbey
Photographed by Ray Gurganus, March 29, 2025
1. Tombs of kings and archbishops Marker
Anglo-Saxon kings and early archbishops were buried here, including St Augustine himself.
The brick foundations in front of you are the only visible remains of Augustine's first church, built soon after AD 597. You are facing the Porticus of St Gregory, a room on the north side of the church which held the tomb of Augustine. Its location is marked by a commemorative stone on the left. The Porticus of St Martin on other side of the church held the tombs of the early kings of Kent, including Ethelbert who gave Augustine this land.
The wider sections of wall you can see are the bases of the tombs of archbishops Laurence (d. 619). Mellitus (d. 624), and Justus (d. 634). They were Augustine's successors as archbishops of Canterbury. Augustine had become the first archbishop when Pope Gregory I gave him this rank and authority. To this day, the archbishop of Canterbury remains the head of the church in England.
This area was excavated in 1921-22. The modern roof structure was put up to allow the best-preserved section of the ancient church to remain exposed.
Erected by English Heritage. (Marker Number 6.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Government & Politics
this page online
Location. 51° 16.695′ N, 1° 5.289′ E. Marker is in Canterbury, England, in Kent. It can be reached from Monastery Street north of Longport, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 15 Monastery St, Canterbury, England CT1, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Greater South East. Globally, it is in the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Centre of Learning (a few steps from this marker); Wulfric's Rotunda (a few steps from this marker); The Crypt (a few steps from this marker); The Great Norman Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Abandonment and Ruin (within shouting distance of this marker); Reuse and Rediscovery (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to St Augustine's Abbey (within shouting distance of this marker); The End of the Abbey (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Canterbury.
Photographed by Ray Gurganus, March 29, 2025
2. Some of the tomb markers in the abbey ruins
Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2025, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 91 times since then and 5 times this year. Last updated on May 20, 2025, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 3, 2025, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
