Castle Park Heritage Part 7: Thomas Becket

In 1154, Theobald of Bec, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury, chose Thomas Becket to be the Archdeacon of Canterbury. He later recommended him to King Henry II for the position of Lord Chancellor, which Becket accepted in January 1155.

When Theobald died in 1162, Henry II appointed Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury. Becket soon gave up the Chancellorship and began standing up for the rights of Archbishops and the Clergy. This caused a conflict with Henry II, who wanted the monarchy to have more control over the church.

In 1163, Henry II tried to turn other bishops against Becket because Becket believed that the church should have more power than the king. This conflict continued in 1164 when Becket was summoned to the Great Council at Northampton, facing charges related to land disputes. He fled to France, where King Louis VII offered him protection.

The central issue was that, as Archbishop, Becket could not be tried in courts that were independent of any religious influence or control, which undermined Henry II's authority.

Legend has it that Becket stopped at the now 'Beckets Well' for a drink of water as he fled Northampton.

In 1170, Henry II and Becket made peace, allowing Becket to return to England. Their reconciliation came after a period of tense disagreement, primarily over the power struggle between church and monarchy. However, the resolution was short-lived, as four knights loyal to the king, and still angered by Becket's actions, captured and killed him in Canterbury.

His death shocked the kingdom and had a huge impact on both the church and the monarchy. Following Becket's death, in 1173, Pope Alexander III declared him a Saint, further remembering his legacy as a martyr for the church.

Last updated 17 October 2025