Corner of St. Alphege Lane and Palace Street.

St. Alphege Church from St. Alphege Lane
with the Bell Harry Tower of the
Cathedral in the background.
© P. Blanche 1998

Available records for researchers:

		      Registers:	
                      Baptisms: 1558 - 1980
                      Marriages: 1558 - 1624, 1653 - 1977
                      Burials: 1558 - 1637, 1653 - 1864
		      Bishop's Transcripts:
		      CMB: 1569 - 1812

St. Alphege is no longer utilized as a church. It is now a local heritage centre although exactly what type of heritage it is dedicated to, I am not sure. The only time I have been to the church on a fairly recent visit to Canterbury there was some kind of coffee morning in progress which did not allow me a proper 'snoop'.

For anyone who believes they may have early connections with Canterbury from Walloon and/or Huguenot ancestry should try consulting the records of St. Alphege. It was frequently used by these European Protestants prior to the regular use of the Chapel in the Crypt of the Cathedral. In addition, as tends to happen when people become familiar and comfortable with their normal routine, I think you will find that some of these families continued to use the church after the move by members of the main congregation to the Cathedral. The church is very close to the River and the main areas used for weaving in those days around Blackfriars, the next lane across from St. Alphege Lane. Therefore, for those who wanted to use a church in their immediate neighbourhood, St. Alphege was the perfect choice.

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