St Mildred's Church, Canterbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Saint Mildred |
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| Church of St. Mildred with St. Mary de Castro | |
St. Mildred's Church seen from the south
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| 51°16′36″N 1°4′27″E / 51.27667°N 1.07417°E | |
| Location | Canterbury, Kent |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Tradition | Anglo-Catholic |
| History | |
| Consecrated | Before 1066 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Canterbury |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of Saint Mildred is a very old stone church in Canterbury, England. It was built partly in the Anglo-Saxon style. This means parts of it were built before the Normans arrived in 1066. The church likely dates back to the 11th century.
It is a special building because it is the only church from before the Norman Conquest that is still standing inside Canterbury's old city walls. Since 1949, it has been a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical building that needs to be protected.
History of Saint Mildred's Church
It is not known exactly when the Church of Saint Mildred was first built. However, two of its main walls, in the nave (the main part of the church), are Anglo-Saxon. This shows they are very old, from before 1066. The chancel, which is the area around the altar, is also thought to be Anglo-Saxon.
The church is named after Saint Mildred, who died in the year 768. Her relics, which are special items connected to her, were moved in the mid-11th century. They were moved from Canterbury Cathedral to St Augustine's Abbey. It is believed that the church was built around this time, possibly to honor her.
Most of the church's main hall (nave) and its smaller chapels were built between the 13th century and 1512. The church was also greatly repaired and updated in 1861.
Who Owned the Church?
For a long time, Saint Mildred's Church belonged to St Augustine's Abbey. This abbey was a large religious house. However, in 1538, the abbey was closed down during a time called the "dissolution of the monasteries." After this, the church became the property of the Crown, meaning it belonged to the King or Queen of England.
Saint Mildred's Church Today
Today, the Church of Saint Mildred is part of a group of churches called the Benefice of St Dunstan, St Mildred and St Peter, Canterbury. This group is part of the larger Diocese of Canterbury. The church follows the Anglo-Catholic tradition within the Church of England. This means it has a style of worship that is similar to some older Christian traditions.
