In the spring of 597, a band of forty monks landed on the Isle of Thanet, sent by Pope Gregory the Great to convert the English. Their leader, Augustine, would become the first Archbishop of Canterbury and the Apostle of the English. The Shrine of St. Augustine in Ramsgate commemorates this landing—the moment when Roman Christianity returned to Britain after the Anglo-Saxon invasions had swept away the faith of the Romano-British period.
But Ramsgate's pilgrimage significance extends beyond Augustine. The town is also home to St. Augustine's Church, designed by Augustus Welby Pugin, the great architect of the Gothic Revival who built his home here and created one of his most personal works. Pugin is buried in the church he designed, making it a pilgrimage destination for those interested in Catholic art and architecture as well as ancient Christianity.
The combination of Augustine's landing site and Pugin's church creates a unique pilgrimage that spans fourteen centuries of English Catholic history—from the Roman mission that first brought the faith to the Victorian revival that sought to restore it.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
Pope Gregory the Great dispatched Augustine's mission in 596, responding to the appeal of King Ethelbert of Kent, whose wife Bertha was a Frankish Christian princess. The monks landed at Ebbsfleet on the Isle of Thanet (then separated from mainland Kent by a channel now silted up) in 597.
Ethelbert received Augustine cautiously, meeting him in the open air (fearing indoor sorcery). But the king was soon converted; Canterbury became the center of the English Church; and Augustine's mission began the work that would make England Christian.
The landing site was venerated in the medieval period but fell into obscurity after the Reformation. Modern devotion has revived, particularly since the erection of the St. Augustine's Cross memorial in 1884 at Ebbsfleet.
A.W.N. Pugin (1812-1852), the architect who transformed English church architecture through his Gothic Revival designs, moved to Ramsgate in 1843. He built his home, The Grange, adjacent to a church he designed—St. Augustine's—which he funded largely from his own resources. This church, completed in 1851, represents Pugin's personal vision of what Catholic worship should look like: medieval-inspired architecture serving the liturgy.
Pugin died exhausted at age 40, worn out by his prodigious work on churches throughout England and his contribution to the Houses of Parliament. He was buried in his church, and the building remains a monument to his genius.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Ramsgate
Shrine of St. Augustine and St. Augustine's Church (Pugin's Church)
Church of St. Augustine
The church Pugin designed and funded stands as both a working parish and a memorial to its creator. The interior exemplifies Pugin's principles: architecture serving liturgy, every detail contributing to worship. The chancel screen, the altar, the stained glass, and the fittings all reflect his vision.
Pugin's tomb lies in the church, marked by a brass that he designed himself. Visitors can see the Pugin Shrine celebrating his life and work.
The Grange (Pugin's Home)
Pugin designed his own home adjacent to the church, now managed by the Landmark Trust. The house can be visited on open days or rented for accommodation.
St. Augustine's Cross, Ebbsfleet
The memorial cross at Ebbsfleet marks the traditional site of Augustine's landing in 597. The Victorian cross stands in a field now surrounded by infrastructure development.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of St. Augustine of Canterbury — May 27
The principal feast celebrates the apostle of the English with special liturgies at the shrine church.
Pugin Anniversary — September 14
The anniversary of Pugin's death is marked with Masses and celebrations of his architectural legacy.
🛏️ Where to Stay
The Grange (historic house rental) — Pugin's own home, now available through Landmark Trust for holiday rental.
Ramsgate Hotels — Various options in this seaside resort town.
Broadstairs Hotels — The neighboring resort (4 km) offers additional accommodation.
🚗 Getting There
By Train: Ramsgate station is on the high-speed line from London St. Pancras (approximately 1.25 hours).
By Car: Ramsgate is at the end of the A299. The church is near the harbor.
🔗 Useful Links
Shrine of St. Augustine, Ramsgate — Parish and shrine information.
Pugin Society — Resources on Pugin's life and work.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Canterbury (25 km) — Augustine's cathedral, built where he established his see.
Faversham (20 km) — National Shrine of St. Jude.
Aylesford (40 km) — Carmelite shrine.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"Gregory, moved by divine inspiration, sent a servant of God named Augustine and several other God-fearing monks with him to preach the word of God to the English nation." — Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Book I, Chapter 23
