The San Francisco call., 1904-06-19
Repairing old Canterbury.
Special Correspondents.

Special Correspondents.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE CALL
HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT
GARDEN. LONDON, June 5.-Ameri-
cans who are coming 70 England this
year and intend visiting Canterbury,
viii be disappointed to hear that build
ers have just begun to surround the
central tower Of the famous cathedral
with g huge scanolding by which It's
beauties will be completely hidden for
probably many months 10 come. The
temporary Disagreement is necessitat-
ed, however, by the unsound condition
OF this portion OF the structure, which
has made its restoration imperative,
lest the tower should share the fate
OF Venice's Campanile. Historically
known as the Bell Harry tower, this
crowning achievement Of Canterbury's
architect is commonly regarded as the
finest example Of the perpendicular
style Of church architecture in Eng
land, although the name Of its de-
signer has not been handed down TO
posterity. Its construction was begun
in 1872 and It replaced a former tower
called the Angel Stepple," a name
cherub who was perched on the pin
nacle. It is 2s5 feet high and 35 feet
in diameter, but such is the dignity
and stateliness OF the design that II
conveys the impression Of much larger
dimensions.
After Westminster Abbey and st.
PauTs, Canterbury Cathedral is the
most highly prized OF England's
churches, both for its architectural
beauty and its historic associations.
It originated. it is said, in a church
formerly used by the Roman Chris
tians and which St Augustine conse-
Grated under the name Of Christ's
Church when he became Archbishop Of
Canterbury in 597. Enlarged some $50
years later by Archbishop Odo, ii was
totally destroyed by fire in 1867. Arch
bishop Lanfranc rebuilt It, but the
choir was again wholly burned down
in lI74, and to rebuild it a number Of
French and English artihcers were
summoned. Among the former was
one William Of Sens, who turned out to
be a man Of real genius, and to him
the work was entrusted. He died, how
ever, In ll7S, before the work was fin
ished, but a worthy successor was
found in another William, this time
an Englishman, and to him is due the
completion Of the existing unique and
beautiful choir, the choir transept and
the corona or circular apse, which un-
der the name Of "Becket's Crown"
perpetuates the memory Of the famous
Archbishop who was murdered in the
cathedral.
.Of the towards that eat my bread
is there none will rid me Of this tur-
bulent priest?" hastily exclaimed King
Henry II, wearying Of his long quar-
rels with the soldier prelate and cham
pion Of church supremacy. How four
knights overheard these hasty words
and interpreting them as royal man
date stole into the cathedral one even
ing and slew the Archbishop before the
altar OF st. Benedict, every school boy
knows. Under threat Of excommuni-
eating him the church made King
Henry pay a heavy bill Of damages
for instigating that sacrilegious crime.
Beckett was canonized and his bones
were deposited IN a splendid shrine in
the cathedral, which for three centu-
ries continued TO be the object Of one
OF the great pilgTimages OF Christen-
dom. Then came along another King
Henry, eighth Of that name, the much
married monarch, who, caring not a
hutton for accommodation. quarreled
with the Pope on the question OF royal
matrimonial rights and privileges and
determined to set I'D as head Of the
English church himself He despoiled
Becket's shrine, getting over q score
carloads OF treasure therefrom, erased
his name from the calendar Of the
saints and ordered his bones to be
burned and the ashes to be scattered to
the four winds.
Whether this was really done no one
can tell at this day. In 1888 a stone
coffin, with the remains OF a skeleton
which some declared to be that Of the
rnartyred Archbishop. was discovered
in the crypt and reburied after careful
examination. A curious mosaic pave
rnent still remains In front Of The place
where the shrine stood, and IN the
stone steps which lead UP to it are deep
hollows worn by the knees Of tount-
less pilgrims who there resorted in the
old days 10 plead for the intercession
and favor Of the saint