Life giving resources. Faithfully delivered.
FREE delivery on orders over £10
Serving over 2 million Christians in the UK
with Bibles, Books and Church Supplies
Our Buy-Now-Pay-Later accounts used
by over 4,000 UK Churches & Schools
Simon Cross
An historic church building which stands close to the place where St Augusting landed in the UK, has been formally designated as a shrine to the ‘Apostle for the English.’
St Augustines church in Ramsgate, which had become the centre of a row when an order of monks had moved out of their next-door quarters, is to become a place of pilgrimage.
Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark has given an official decree that the building, designed by the artist Pugin, will become the new shrine of Augustine, the first since the Reformation.
Now pilgrims will take spiritual journeys to Ramsgate, in an echo of the ancient traditions which were among the reasons for the original building of the church.
The artist Pugin, who designed it, and created various artefacts to go in to it, chose the spot because of its proimity to the landing spot of Augustine in 597.
The last shrine of Augustine, on the Isle of Thanet, was destroyed in the 16th century.
Pugin, who is buried in the church, chose to dedicate the building to Augustine – the originator of the Roman church in England.Pilgrims from across the country already journey to it in recognition of his huge impact on the shape of Christianity in the UK.
But St Augustines recently became the centre of controversy, when a group of Benedictine monks who had been living next door to the church, chose to move to a new home, and put a number of the Pugin designed treasures they had been looking after, up for auction.
The sale caused anger among some commentators who felt that Pugin’s legacy, and that of St Augustine’s was being squandered.
Help came when many of the treasures were sold privately, with the purpose of being kept at St Augustine’s - which is currently undergoing some restoration work.
Fr Marcus Holden, parish priest and custodian of St Augustine’s said: "This is amazing news for us. Pugin’s church is secured by this added living identity which also fulfils many of his own dreams in honouring the English saints and St Augustine in particular.”
Bible
Finding the right Bible isn’t easy. There are dozens of translations and hundreds of editions to choose from. Our new series of guides is here to answer your questions about the different Bibles on offer today.
Bible
Finding the right Bible isn’t easy. There are dozens of translations and hundreds of editions to choose from. Our new series of guides is here to answer your questions about the different Bibles on offer today.
Featured
Finding the right Bible isn’t easy. There are dozens of translations and hundreds of editions to choose from. Our new series of guides is here to answer your questions about the different Bibles on offer today.
Featured
Finding the right Bible isn’t easy. There are dozens of translations and hundreds of editions to choose from. Our new series of guides is here to answer your questions about the different Bibles on offer today.
Bible
With more than 20 English Language translations each available in 25 or more different editions the choice of Bibles excites and bewilders. Choosing the right Bible for you is important - even if you already have more than one.
Spiritual Growth
Long overshadowed by the celebrations of Easter Sunday, Lent is being rediscovered as a sacred time of reflection and renewal in its own right and a time of preparation for the joyous seasonal finale.