Christ Church Gate
On Gingerguide's self-guided Canterbury audio tour, Christ Church Gate is a stop worth about ~15 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type landmark
- Suggested visit ~15 min
- Canterbury Canterbury guide
About Christ Church Gate
The dazzling Tudor gateway from the Buttermarket into the cathedral precincts, its front crowded with carved heraldry and crowned by a gilded figure of Christ.
Christ Church Gate is the main gateway from the Buttermarket into the precincts of Canterbury Cathedral. Cathedral records date it to between 1504 and 1521 (generally about 1517–1520), built during the priorate of Prior Goldstone, and it is thought to have been raised partly as a memorial to Prince Arthur, Henry VIII's elder brother, who died in 1502. Its richly carved front, covered in heraldic shields, mixes late-Gothic and early-Renaissance design.
The original figure of Christ and the wooden gates were destroyed by the Puritan iconoclast Richard Culmer in 1643; the present oak gates date from 1661, and the Tudor turrets, removed in 1830, were rebuilt in 1937. The present gilt-bronze figure of Christ over the archway was installed in 1990, sculpted by Klaus Ringwald. The gate is a Grade I listed building.
Did you know? The gate is thought to have been built partly as a memorial to Prince Arthur, Henry VIII's elder brother. Arthur's death in 1502 made the young Henry heir, changing the course of English history.
How much time do you need at Christ Church Gate?
Around ~15 min works well for Christ Church Gate — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at Christ Church Gate?
Yes — Christ Church Gate made the cut as one of 13 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Canterbury. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Canterbury
Day 2 of the Canterbury in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Christ Church Gate
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