In our exploration of Christmastide this year we have reached the day when followers of Catholic and Anglican traditions celebrate the Feast of Thomas Becket. During the reign of Henry II, Becket was confirmed as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162. A long-standing dispute over church authority led to his murder by four of the king's knights on December 29, 1170, inside Canterbury Cathedral.
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| Leaf from Carrow Psalter, ca. 1250, depicting Thomas Becket's assassination |
The carol of the day comes from a 15th century manuscript that survived Henry VIII's attempt to obliterate all memorials to Becket. This setting was composed by Stephen Barker for the 2020 Canterbury Medieval Festival and the 850th anniversary of Becket's murder in the cathedral.
Sources
Photos and Illustrations:
wikipedia.org, Carrow Psalter leaf, Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Public domain in the United States.
Text:
catholicculture.org
wikipedia.org
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