anterbury in Kent is one of the starting points for the modern Pilgrims on their way to Derry. It was at Canterbury 1400 years ago that St Augustine established a Christian community. He was helped by Queen Bertha who was already a Christian, and one of the first converts was her husband, King Ethelbert. Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury, and although the present cathedral was built after his time, it is probably the best known place of pilgrimage in the United Kingdom. In fact Canterbury is known as the City of Pilgrims, and there are many signs of its long connection with pilgrims in the names of the streets and buildings. In his famous book The Canterbury Tales, written in the Middle Ages, Geoffrey Chaucer wrote stories about pilgrims on their way to Canterbury. There are various plans in Canterbury to celebrate the 1400th anniversary of Augustine's arrival, including an exhibition of paintings of his journey (24th May until 24th June) and an exhibition of the relics of St Thomas Becket who was martyred in the Cathedral (7th April to 31st October). The Pilgrims Way pilgrimage passed through on Monday 26th May, which is St Augustine's Day (and was also the Spring Bank Holiday), when there were special celebrations.

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