Canterbury Cathedral - The first Archbishop of Canterbury was St Augustine who arrived on the coast of Kent as a missionary to England in 597 AD. He came from Rome, sent by Pope Gregory the Great. The story goes that Gregory had seen "Angle" slaves for sale in the city market and struck by their beauty, had remarked "not Angles but Angels". Such a people he was convinced should be converted to Christianity, and ordered Augustine and a group of monks to set out for England. On his arrival Augustine was given a church at Canterbury by the local King Ethelbert whose Queen, Bertha, was already a Christian. This building had been a place of worship during the Roman occupation of Britain. Soon consecrated Bishop, Augustine established his seat (or "cathedra") in this place as the first Archbishop of Canterbury. The present archbishop, Most Revd Dr Rowan Williams, is 104th in the line of succession - 597 - St Augustine arrived in Kent and soon established the first Cathedral 1070-1077 - Cathedral rebuilt by Archbishop Lanfranc 1098-1130 - New Quire built over a Crypt (present Western Crypt) 1170 - Thomas Becket murdered in the Cathedral 1175-1184 - Quire rebuilt. Eastern Crypt, Trinity and Corona Chapels added (all as seen today) 1220 - Becket's body placed in new Shrine in Trinity Chapel 1377-1405 - Lanfranc Nave demolished and rebuilt as seen today; Cloister vaulting inserted c1450 - Pulpitum Screen constructed 1498 - Bell Harry Tower completed the Cathedral 1538 - Becket's Shrine destroyed by Henry VIII 1540 - Monastry dissolved by royal command 1541 - New Foundation of Dean and Chapter established 1660-1704 - Repair and refurbishing after Puritan damage 1663 - Quire Lectern 1954 - Library rebuilt, repairing War damage 1986 - Altar of the Sword's Point (Martyrdom) restored 1988 - Compass Rose placed in the nave 2000 - International Study Centre in precincts completed