Canterbury

Our Learning Area takes its name from the most popular shrine in England, the tomb of Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.

House Leader – Ruth Shardlow
Augustine (KS3) – Mrs Mhairi Lageron
Catherine (KS3) – Miss Rita Pennant
Claire (KS3) – Mrs Kate Harvey
Sebastian (KS4) – Mrs Sarah Logan
Veronica (KS4) – Mrs Louisa Stanley & Mrs Hannah McCay
Thomas (KS5) – Mr John McGahey

When Thomas Becket was murdered local people managed to obtain pieces of cloth soaked in his blood. Rumours soon spread that, when touched by this cloth, people were cured of blindness/epilepsy and leprosy. It was not long before the monks at Canterbury Cathedral were selling small glass bottles of Becket’s blood to visiting pilgrims. The keeper of the shrine would also give the pilgrim a metal badge that had been stamped with the symbol of the shrine.

Pilgrimage can be considered the journey to a distant sacred goal; and is found in all the great religions of the world. Whilst it is a journey outwards to hallowed places it is also more importantly for us an inward journey toward spiritual improvement; it can express penance for past evils, or the search for future good.

At Christ the King we are all on a certain stage in the journey of our life, either starting out, preparing for GCSEs or A levels. Some of us may have started this journey by making strong positive steps, sure of our way, others may feel that we may have strayed from our path, taken a wrong turn or not followed the path we may have intended to.

But it is a journey we should always support each other with, to achieve the best that we can and reach our full potential; for it is a journey towards wholeness with God on a sacred path.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
I give you my hands to do your work
I give you my feet to go your way
I give you my eyes to see as you do.
I give you my tongue to speak your words.
I give you my mind that you may think in me.
I give you my spirit that you may pray in me.
Above all, I give you my spirit that you may pray in me, your father and all mankind.
I give you my whole self that you may grow in me, so that it is you, Lord Jesus, who live and work and pray in me.