The other one....

The Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament had been damaged in the 2010 earthquake, but then the February 2011 quake devastated the building.   It once had had two beautiful domed bell towers, and a central dome - a cupola over the nave below.  All gone.

Mediaeval legends about the miraculous works of the saints owed a lot to the contemporary lack of scientific knowledge.   However, they did provide the bedrock for the future travel industry - with pilgrimages going all over.   On the 22 February 2011, a large statue of the Madonna that stood in the north tower, stretching her arms wide in blessing over the congregation of the faithful, did an 180° pirouette and turned out to face the devastated city.    A miracle?  I think not, but if it provided some comfort to a broken heart, well....why not.

Not far away I stopped at the large open space where had stood the offices of Canterbury Television.    115 were crushed to death when that building came down - mainly young people.   I couldn't take a picture!

Extra:   Inside the Transitional Anglican Cathedral (the Cardboard Cathedral) the temporary home until some decision is taken about the ruins in Cathedral Square.