Gone Medieval

The Cult of Becket

Jul 26, 2024

Dr. John Jenkins discusses the cult of Becket after his murder, the surge of pilgrims to Canterbury, spread across Europe, the economic impact, relic lore, the destruction attempts by figures like Thomas Cromwell, and the lasting impact of Becket's saintly legacy.

45:46

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Episode guests

John Jenkins

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Quick takeaways

The cult of Becket attracted thousands of pilgrims seeking healing and spiritual connection at Canterbury Cathedral.

Despite misconceptions, profits from pilgrimages to Becket's shrine barely covered expenses, highlighting the cult's true motivations.

Deep dives

The Emergence of the Cult of Thomas Beckett

The murder of Archbishop Thomas Beckett in his own cathedral sparks the rise of miraculous healings and divine interventions, attracting tens of thousands of pilgrims to Canterbury. People from all walks of life embark on a journey to show devotion to St. Thomas, traveling on foot or horseback, sharing stories, hymns, and prayers along the way.

Intro

2min

The Cult of Thomas Becket and the Pilgrimage to Canterbury

17min

The Cult of Beckett: From Devotion to Destruction

12min

Exploring U.S. Democracy and History Amidst the Presidential Elections

2min

The International Spread and Political Significance of the Cult of Becket

2min

Exploring the Significance of Stained Glass Windows and Pilgrimages to Canterbury

12min

Exploring the Cult of Becket in Medieval Times

2min

Almost immediately after Thomas Becket’s murder, reports of miraculous healings and divine interventions spread like wildfire. Canterbury witnessed a huge influx of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all over Europe, boosting the city’s wealth.

In this final episode of our series about Becket, Matt Lewis is joined by Dr. John Jenkins to look at the cult of Becket, how it spread across the continent and continues to this day to keep Canterbury up there among the UK’s top destinations, exactly 850 years since King Henry II went to do penance for his involvement in Becket’s murder in the cathedral.

John Jenkins, of the University of York, recently edited and translated The Customary of the Shrine of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral, a fifteenth-century 'operating manual' to Britain's most important shrine available as an Open Access ebook and in paperback from Arc Humanities Press.

Gone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. It was edited by Ella Blaxill, the producers are Rob Weinberg and Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

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