Canterbury Cathedral, Trinity Chapel: The Archaeology of the Mosaic Pavement and Setting of the Shrine of St Thomas Becket

The Canterbury Cathedral has a marble mosaic pavement from the early 12th century, which has long intrigued scholars and been the subject of speculation and debate. This volume explores the history and archaeology of the Trinity chapel, the pavement, and the physical remains of the cult of Becket, based largely on hitherto unrecorded and unpublished evidence. The pavement was laid in front of the high altar and was destroyed by a fire in 1173, leading to the construction of the present Trinity and Corona chapels. The shrine comprised a marble sarcophagus containing the saints body, a feretory, and forty-eight figurative stone roundels. The layout of the chapel underwent transmutations, including the taking up of the mosaic pavement and the reordering of the podium carrying the shrine.

Format: Hardback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2022
Publisher: Oxbow Books

Canterbury Cathedral is home to a unique marble mosaic pavement that dates back to the early 12th century. This intricate floor design has long captivated scholars and sparked speculation and debate among them. It forms part of the floor of the Trinity Chapel, which is located adjacent to the site where the shrine of St. Thomas Becket stood before the Reformation. The mosaic is older than the chapel itself and partly destroyed a pavement of figurative roundels that was laid around 1215. This suggests that the mosaic was moved to its current location from elsewhere in the cathedral.

This captivating volume delves into the history and archaeology of the Trinity Chapel, the pavement, and the physical remains of the cult of Becket. It relies on hitherto unrecorded and unpublished evidence to shed light on these aspects.

During Archbishop Anselm's reconstruction of the eastern arm of the cathedral in the early 12th century, he introduced architectural elements from his native Italy, including the magnificent mosaic pavement that graced the front of the high altar. In 1170, Archbishop Becket was assassinated in the cathedral, and his body rested overnight on the pavement before being buried in the crypt. Thomas was immediately revered as a martyr, and in 1173, he was canonized by the pope. A simple shrine was erected over his tomb.

However, tragedy struck again in the following year when a fire (arson) destroyed the eastern arm of the cathedral. This event precipitated the construction of the present Trinity and Corona chapels, where St. Thomas's remains were enshrined. After decades of delay and political strife, the enshrinement finally took place in 1220, in the presence of Henry III. The shrine consisted of a grand marble table supported by six clusters of columns. On top of the table was a marble sarcophagus containing the saint's body in an iron-bound timber coffin, over which stood the sumptuous feretory, a gabled timber 'roof, plated with sh.

Dimension: 305 x 240 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789258417