Thomas of Canterbury 		December 29
Bishop, Martyr
Thomas of Canterbury, possibly better known as Thomas Becket, is probably the most famous of the medieval archbishops of Canterbury. He came from a Norman family that had settled in London after the Norman Conquest. He was born in 1118 and was educated at Merton Abbey and Paris. He was sent to Bologna and Auxerre to study law, was ordained deacon, and in 1154 was made archdeacon of Canterbury, a post that gave him scope to use his administrative skills to the full. Also in 1154 Henry II ascended the English throne and the two men came in frequent contact.
In 1155 Henry appointed Thomas as chancellor of England, and Thomas served his king loyally and competently in the administration of state affairs, in embassies, and even on military expeditions. He was all that Henry could have wished for in his chancellor. He even supported the king’s interests against those of the church on occasion. Thomas’s lifestyle was consistent with his position in his lavish entertainments and wealth.
The Middle Ages had seen a considerable power struggle between church and state in Europe. This came to involve the papacy in the wake of the reforms of the eleventh century. Thomas’s next move can be seen as Henry’s attempt to have his chancellor able to control the church as well as the state. Henry appointed Thomas archbishop of Canterbury in 1162.
Thomas, who had warned the king of what would happen, now gave the church the same intense loyalty he had given the king. He resigned the chancellorship and adopted a more austere life-style. To Henry’s chagrin and annoyance, Thomas then opposed the king’s attempts to control the church over the matter of the notoriously lax ecclesiastical courts, on which any “clerks” could rely to escape the king’s justice. Thomas also opposed the king over taxation affecting the church, and supported the idea of appeals to Rome on matters affecting the church in England.
A long and bitter struggle between the two men followed. When Henry attempted to try Thomas over financial dealings during his chancellorship, Thomas went into exile and spent the next six years in France. The controversy continued, with Thomas more and more seeing the issue as a fundamental one of spiritual authority: church and state, God and caesar.
The rift between Henry and Thomas was patched up in 1169, and Thomas returned home to a hero’s welcome. In the interval the king had ignored the claims of Canterbury and had the archbishop of York crown Prince Henry. Thomas retaliated by excommunicating the bishops concerned. Henry in a rage called for Thomas’s removal. Four leading knights promptly rode to Canterbury and murdered Thomas in his cathedral on 29 December 1170.
A popular cult of St Thomas grew up almost immediately. He was canonised in 1173, and his shortcomings were almost completely forgotten. Canterbury became a place of pilgrimage until his shrine was destroyed by Henry VIII in 1538.
For Liturgical Use
Thomas Becket was born in London in 1118, and became archdeacon of Canterbury in 1154. Henry II appreciated his considerable administrative ability and made him chancellor of England in 1155. He fulfilled Henry’s expectations so well that Henry made him archbishop of Canterbury in 1162, hoping to control the church as well. Thomas however now gave his total loyalty to the church. A bitter struggle developed, during which Thomas spent six years in exile in France. In 1170 the exasperated king called for Thomas’s removal, and four knights murdered Thomas in his cathedral on 29 December.
Sentence
Be faithful until death, says the Lord, and I will give you the crown of life.	
				Revelation 2:10 (adapted)
Collects
God our strength and support,
you gave your servant Thomas Becket
courage and steadfastness
to defend your church with his life;
make us bold to proclaim your truth
and ready to suffer for your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God of justice, have patience
if like Thomas
we give our loyalty
or in the end our lives
to a mistake;
have patience 
if others use the mistake to their advantage.
Psalms	54	64
Readings
Jeremiah 38:1-6		Jeremiah’s suffering
Hebrews 13:10-16		No lasting city here
John 10:11-18		I lay down my life
Post Communion Sentence
Hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.	Hosea 12:6