Today in history

On this date:

In 1089, Lanfranc, the first Norman Archbishop of Canterbury, died. During his time as archbishop, he rebuilt the cathedral, based on the design of his former abbey in Caen, in northern France.

In 1533, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, declared the marriage of England’s King Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn valid.

In 1731, all Hebrew books in the Vatican-controlled Papal States were confiscated.

In 1808, Canadian explorer Simon Fraser began a trip down the British Columbia river that would bear his name.

In 1898, the Shroud of Turin was photographed for the first time. Many believe the shroud shows the negative image of the crucified Jesus Christ.

In 1927, the Canadian Old Age Pension Plan was approved by the House of Commons. It was to be paid to those in need over the age of 70, in co-operation with participating provinces.

In 1929, the first all-colour talking picture, “On with the Show,” opened in New York.

In 1937, Neville Chamberlain became prime minister of Britain.

In 1954, U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill which added the words “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance.

In 1958, the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. merged with the Presbyterian Church of North America to form the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.