St Thomas à Becket

St Thomas à Becket (c. 1118 — 1170) was an English prelate and statesman who was archbishop of Canterbury during 1162 — 70, known for declaring the independence of the Church, and his opposition to Henry II, after which he was assassinated.

He was born in London, of Norman parentage; studied at Oxford and Bologna; entered the Church; was made Lord Chancellor; had a large and splendid retinue, but on becoming archbishop, cast all pomp aside and became an ascetic, and devoted himself to the vigorous discharge of the duties of his high office.

After he declared for the independence of the Church, and refused to sign the Constitutions of Clarendon, King Henry II grew restive under his assumption of authority, and got rid of him by the hands of four knights who, to please the king, shed his blood on the steps of the altar of Canterbury Cathedral, for which outrage the king did penance four years afterwards at his tomb. The struggle was one affecting the relative rights of Church and king, and the chief combatants in the fray were both high-minded men, each inflexible in the assertion of his claims.

Feast day is observed in his honour on December 29.