Opening Service: Feast of the Translation of St Thomas

In accordance with longstanding custom, the Congress will open on Sunday 7 July with an ecumenical service of welcome and commemoration of deceased historians of medieval canon law. This will be held in Canterbury Cathedral at 15.30-16.30. Following this, at 17.30-18.30, delegates may participate in Cathedral Evensong to celebrate the Feast of St Thomas Becket, which will include a solemn procession to the shrine. All participants are warmly invited to attend.

For those planning to attend the service, please read these joining instructions provided by Canterbury Cathedral.

We will then welcome Congress delegates back up the hill at the opening reception at the University of Kent, Sibson Building, which is generously sponsored by ICMAC, from 19.30.

For congress participants who are Catholic laity or priests (licensed to celebrate in the Catholic Southwark archdiocese) there is the opportunity to attend or concelebrate Mass, which will take place in St Thomas's of Canterbury Roman Catholic Church (59 Burgate: 1.7 miles from Keynes College and close to the Christ Church gate of Canterbury Cathedral), from Monday, 8th to Saturday, 13th July, at 7.30 a.m. each day.