THREADS OF TIME

A key part of the 2020 commemorations marking the murder of Thomas Becket will be the unveiling of 12 new festal vestments at special services held at Canterbury Cathedral

This year marks an important dual anniversary for the martyr Thomas Becket. It will be 850 years since his dramatic murder on 29 December 1170 in Canterbury Cathedral, and 800 years since his body was moved on 7 July 1220 from a tomb in the crypt of the cathedral to a new gold-plated and bejewelled shrine behind the high altar in the Trinity Chapel.

The events of 1220 were orchestrated to relaunch the cult of Becket, and ensured that Canterbury became the principal pilgrimage destination in England and one of the major pilgrimage sites within Europe.

Despite the shrine being destroyed in 1538 by Henry VIII during the Reformation, visitors from all over the world still flock to the site, where today a single candle burns in tribute.

No doubt their numbers will be even greater this year as the cathedral hosts a series of events to mark the anniversaries, including a major church service on 5 July, jointly held by Catholics and Anglicans.

I am in Canterbury with the cathedral’s Precentor, the Revd Max Kramer, to learn about the results of an ambitious fundraising campaign that will be unveiled during 2020.

Last March the Dean, the Very Reverend Dr Robert Willis, launched ‘Copes for Canterbury’ to raise money for 12 bespoke sets of festal vestments in honour of the Becket commemorations.

The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral stepped up to the challenge magnificently and raised more than £40,000, some donating the entire cost of a cope (£3,000) others clubbing together to sponsor one between them.